THE Society for Rights of Indigenous Peoples of Sarawak (Scrips) has called on Dayak ministers and deputy ministers, as well as all elected representatives, to be open and receptive to critical feedback from the rakyat.
Scrips secretary-general Michael Jok said the rakyat has the right to analyse and criticise those elected representatives if they feel that these "yang berhormats" have failed to perform to expectations.
"We in Scrips recently read about how certain Dayak leaders in Sarawak had reacted angrily towards a survey carried out by a professor-academician.
"Their emotional reactions do not reflect well on the posts they are holding.
"As elected representatives holding posts like ministers and deputy ministers, they are accountable to the rakyat.
"The rakyat are the ones who voted them into office.
"Instead of reacting emotionally and so negatively, these Dayak YBs should take the chance to tell the rakyat what they had achieved.
"In Sarawak, we Dayaks are facing struggles of poverty in rural areas, horrendous road and bridge conditions in many rural districts, joblessness among rural folks and still lacking electricity supplies and treated water in many longhouses and villages.
"There are still so many native land disputes where natives have seen their land rights trespassed.
"Many Dayak ministers and deputy ministers have been in office for decades but these social problems have gotten worse," he said.
Jok, whose organisation has influence statewide, called on all Dayak politicians to listen to the rakyat's critical feedback and improve accordingly.
The results of a recent random survey showing the alleged overall poor performance of Sarawakian Dayaks ministers and deputy ministers at state and federal ministries touched raw and sensitive nerves among ruling state politicians in Sarawak.
Several Sarawak politicians have been offended and have openly stated they are upset over the survey that criticised the effectiveness of these Dayak politicians. - January 11, 2025
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