MIRI – The 1.73 million Dayaks in Sarawak have been allegedly treated as “second-class citizens” by the state government, accused Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDS) president Bobby William.
He told voters on his campaign trail that this has been ongoing over the past 58 years and that native Sarawakians have been left far behind when it comes to development and opportunity.
“From our social to economic lives, we Dayaks have come second to others all the time. We still have a lot of our people living in poverty, without proper homes even in urban areas.
“In rural areas, our living conditions have not improved much in many places. A lot of our people are living in hardship all over the state.
“We must vote Dayaks into power. If not the Dayaks, who else will give us priority?” he asked locals.
Bobby will be contesting in a five-corner fight for Senadin.
His opponents are five-time Senadin incumbent and former state transport minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin from Sarawak United Peoples’ Party, which is part of the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition; former school principal and DAP member Marcus Lejau; Parti Bumi Kenyalang’s Eric Ngieng, and Lee Tze Ha of Parti Sarawak Bersatu.
Part of his campaign message advocates for a Dayak to be chief minister once again, as he calls on all Dayak voters to reject GPS come polling day on Saturday.
PBDS is contesting in 38 seats out of the 82 for grabs. – The Vibes, December 14, 2021