Sikie: Tuai Rumah elected without political interference
KUCHING (June 10): Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department Datuk John Sikie Tayai said community leaders, particularly Tuai Rumah, are elected and that his ministry does not interfere in the election process.
'We do not interfere in their election,' he said when asked to comment on recent remarks by Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) permanent chairman Dr John Brian Anthony and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who claimed that the appointment of community leaders had been influenced by political interests.
Sikie, who oversees Native Adat, explained that community leaders (KMKK) are elected through a process overseen by their respective District Offices, with district or administrative officers supervising the elections.
However, he said he was unsure whether the appointment process for all community leader posts in the Sibu Chinese community, in particular, was being properly monitored.
'Tuai Rumah in longhouses are elected by their respective members of the longhouses, supervised by the Penghulu of the area and also by officers from the respective District office,' said Sikie, who is also Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Senior Vice President and Kakus assemblyman.
Yesterday (June 9), it was reported that Tiong, who is also Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture had warned a certain political party leader against meddling in the selection of committee members for the Sibu Chinese Community Leaders Association.
Stressing the importance of honouring fair and transparent selection processes, the Bintulu MP and Dudong assemblyman – without naming names – said he had recently received complaints about the said leader 'persistently interfering' in the election of the association's committee members.
'It appears this leader is attempting to manipulate the outcome through party influence, sparking strong discontent among the people.'
Separately yesterday, John Brian claimed that political interference in the appointment of Tuai Rumah has long occurred in the Dayak community.
He claimed that such practices not only 'contaminates' the customs and traditional social structure of the Dayak community but also erodes their trust in grassroots leadership.
'These are also often used as a political tool to ensure support for certain parties, thus weakening the autonomy of the community,' he argued. community leaders John Sikie Tayai lead political interference
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