ELECTION TALK: To a Malayan living on the other side of the South China Sea, the word Bidayuh might sound as alien as the Maori of New Zealand or the Igorot of the Philippines.
Some of them might even conjure a tribe roaming the jungles of Borneo, hunting for wild food and practising the ancient macabre game of human headhunting.
They might be surprised to hear that Bidayuh villages are mostly scattered near the capital city of Kuching, and most of the villagers are now living in modern homes and connected to the world via their mobile phones.
With a population of approximately 200,000 or eight percent of the state's population, the Bidayuh are the second largest Dayak ethnic group in Sarawak, after their Dayak cousins the Iban, which make up roughly 40 percent.
The Bidayuh are well represented in the state government. Out of a total of 82 seats (including the additional 11 new seats after the recent redelineation exercise) in the state legislative assembly, eight are being represented by Bidayuh. Of the 11 new seats, two are in Bidayuh majority areas – Serembu and Bukit Semuja.
The six original seats are being represented by Michael Manyin Jawong (Tebedu), Roland Sagah (Tarat), Martin Ben (Kedup), Peter Nansian Ngusie (Tasik Biru), Ranum Minar (Opar) and Dr Jerip Susil (Mambong, formerly called Bengoh).
The two new seats of Serembu and Bukit Semuja will be contested this election for the first time. Whoever will win the seats, one thing is for sure: the state legislative assembly will see another two Bidayuh representatives.
As colourful as their culture, the Bidayuh are also well represented in all the state's political parties. Manyin, Sagah and Martin are from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Nansian is from Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) while both Ranum and Jerip are from United People's Party (UPP).
Political observers believe that Serembu will be allocated to Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) while Bukit Semuja will go to Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP).
Presently, the Bidayuh have one full minister and two assistant ministers in the state cabinet. Manyin is the Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communications, Dr Jerip is Assistant Minister for Public Health while Nansian carries two portfolios: Assistant Minister for Industrial Development as well as Assistant Minister for Local Government and Community Development.
In addition, Sagah is the deputy speaker in the state legislative assembly, a post which is equivalent to that of an assistant minister.
At the federal level, the Bidayuh have three Members of Parliament (MP) who are all in the federal cabinet. Richard Riot Jaem, the SUPP MP for Serian, is Minister of Human Resources; James Dawos Mamit, the PBB MP for Puncak Borneo (formerly Mambong), is Deputy Minister for Energy, Green Technology and Water; Anthony Nogeh Gumbek, the SPDP MP for Mas Gading is Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Agro-based Industry.
Like their other Dayak cousins living in other parts of Sarawak, the Bidayuh are traditionally strong supporters of the BN. Any Bidayuh candidate that carries the BN flag, irrespective of whichever political party he is affiliated to, is bound to be voted in.
At the end of the day, the Bidayuh are all united under their non-political association called Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA).
There is a missing link though: throughout the state's political history, the Bidayuh have yet to vote in a representative from their fairer sex, whether at state or federal level.-The Ant Daily
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