Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Layar branch chairman Stanny Embat said he was saddened by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang’s statement that said Ibans are prone to indulging in “wasteful habits” like cock-fighting, drinking and gambling.
Stanny said the Ibans as painted by Jabu during a function organised by the Kelabits here recently, did not depict the truth about the Iban community whom he described as an active player of the borderless world.
He said it was unfair for Jabu to generalise the community which now numbers close to a million people “when there are only a few bad apples”.
“Like any other active community of people, there are few Ibans who drink, gamble and waste their time but the majority are in fact responsible and hard-working. This majority treasure precious time and practise healthy lifestyle,” he said in a press statement yesterday.
Both Stanny and Jabu, who is Rural Development Minister and Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communications, are Ibans. While Stanny is Layar PKR chairman, Jabu is Layar assemblyman.
“Not few Ibans now are highly educated and qualified people. Some hold top posts in both the private and public sectors,” Stanny pointed out.
According to Stanny, the Ibans are today an advanced race whose mentality has gone beyond labouring in estates and plantations.
“The Ibans of today aspire to be contractors, traders, managers and owners of businesses; not daily paid harvesters of oil palm fruits,” he said.
Stanny said speaking ill of the community and making it look like Ibans were an irresponsible race was not only unfair but a mockery of the achievements and contributions that many members of the community had made both in personal life and public forums.
He said if there were challenges, shortcomings and problems within the community, these should be best discussed and solved through proper forums.
“There should be seminars - better if they are closed-door ones - to talk about one’s community so that members’ welfare and well-being can be discussed and resolutions passed for the benefit of all,” he said.
On the cock-fighting issue, Stanny said it is in fact a well controlled pasttime associated with rituals and ceremonies.
Stanny, a former high-ranking police officer, said the police are strict when issuing licences for cock-fighting sessions.
Without good reasons, applications for a licence would be rejected, he said.
During the Rurum Kelabit Sarawak (RKS) annual education excellence award presentation last Saturday, Jabu said some Ibans still spent their time and money in ‘wasteful habits’ like drinking, gambling and cock-fighting.
He said these ‘wasteful habits’ had hindered the Iban community from producing many successful people like the Kelabits did.
“I always tell the Iban community that when their wives are pregnant, they should start saving money for their children as well as their education.
“But some Iban parents still believe in cock-fighting and will spend RM100 to RM1,000 on a bird (instead of spending on their children who need every chance at good education),” he claimed.
Jabu said he was happy that the Kelabits as well as the Lun Bawangs had long discarded drinking unlike some Ibans who drank until they suffered from hangover and would be unproductive for up to two days.
He said he hoped other Dayak communities would emulate the Kelabits in their pursuit for excellence and progress.
Stanny said the Ibans as painted by Jabu during a function organised by the Kelabits here recently, did not depict the truth about the Iban community whom he described as an active player of the borderless world.
He said it was unfair for Jabu to generalise the community which now numbers close to a million people “when there are only a few bad apples”.
“Like any other active community of people, there are few Ibans who drink, gamble and waste their time but the majority are in fact responsible and hard-working. This majority treasure precious time and practise healthy lifestyle,” he said in a press statement yesterday.
Both Stanny and Jabu, who is Rural Development Minister and Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communications, are Ibans. While Stanny is Layar PKR chairman, Jabu is Layar assemblyman.
“Not few Ibans now are highly educated and qualified people. Some hold top posts in both the private and public sectors,” Stanny pointed out.
According to Stanny, the Ibans are today an advanced race whose mentality has gone beyond labouring in estates and plantations.
“The Ibans of today aspire to be contractors, traders, managers and owners of businesses; not daily paid harvesters of oil palm fruits,” he said.
Stanny said speaking ill of the community and making it look like Ibans were an irresponsible race was not only unfair but a mockery of the achievements and contributions that many members of the community had made both in personal life and public forums.
He said if there were challenges, shortcomings and problems within the community, these should be best discussed and solved through proper forums.
“There should be seminars - better if they are closed-door ones - to talk about one’s community so that members’ welfare and well-being can be discussed and resolutions passed for the benefit of all,” he said.
On the cock-fighting issue, Stanny said it is in fact a well controlled pasttime associated with rituals and ceremonies.
Stanny, a former high-ranking police officer, said the police are strict when issuing licences for cock-fighting sessions.
Without good reasons, applications for a licence would be rejected, he said.
During the Rurum Kelabit Sarawak (RKS) annual education excellence award presentation last Saturday, Jabu said some Ibans still spent their time and money in ‘wasteful habits’ like drinking, gambling and cock-fighting.
He said these ‘wasteful habits’ had hindered the Iban community from producing many successful people like the Kelabits did.
“I always tell the Iban community that when their wives are pregnant, they should start saving money for their children as well as their education.
“But some Iban parents still believe in cock-fighting and will spend RM100 to RM1,000 on a bird (instead of spending on their children who need every chance at good education),” he claimed.
Jabu said he was happy that the Kelabits as well as the Lun Bawangs had long discarded drinking unlike some Ibans who drank until they suffered from hangover and would be unproductive for up to two days.
He said he hoped other Dayak communities would emulate the Kelabits in their pursuit for excellence and progress.
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