Latest news with #PartiBansaDayakSarawak
Borneo Post
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
PBDS calls for revival of Sarawak Rangers, local defence force for border security
This undated handout photo shows Moses (second right), Stephen (second left) and other military officers during a courtesy call on the late Datuk Awang Raweng (third left) at his home in Sri Aman. Awang, the nation's sole recipient of the George Cross gallantry medal, passed away in September 2020 at the age of 91. SIBU (July 10): Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) president Major (R) Moses Ripai has called on both the federal and Sarawak governments to strengthen the state's security infrastructure and formally recognise the historic contributions of the Sarawak Rangers, placing Dayak leadership at the core of future defence strategies. Drawing from his own decorated military career, Moses asserted that Sarawak must no longer be treated as a passive backline in Malaysia's national security planning. 'With Indonesia's new capital Nusantara rising in Kalimantan and rising tensions in the South China Sea, Sarawak is no longer at the periphery – it is now on the frontline,' he said in a statement. He warned that border districts such as Bukit Mabong, Belaga, and Lawas remain highly exposed to cross-border threats, smuggling, and exploitation. Defence responses, he stressed, must be tailored to Sarawak's geography, history, and local expertise. Moses, who served in the 6th Royal Rangers Regiment and participated in Malaysia's Special Forces mission during United Nations operations in Somalia, underscored the importance of institutionalising the legacy of the Sarawak Rangers – a unit composed primarily of Dayak warriors renowned for their jungle warfare skills and loyalty during key conflicts such as the Malayan Emergency and the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation. 'Many of these warriors served with honour, but died unsung. Their families were forgotten, their history left to fade,' he said. He supported a recent call by Works Minister Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi for Sarawak and the Dayak community to be given greater responsibility in the country's defence strategy, describing the minister's remarks as 'bold and timely.' 'It echoes PBDS' longstanding position that Sarawak must be entrusted with the responsibility and the tools, to secure its own future,' said Moses. He also proposed that Sarawak establish its own Territorial Army Regiment or ranger-based detachment, composed of local personnel particularly Dayak veterans and military-trained youth. To preserve and honour the past, Moses also proposed the establishment of a Sarawak Rangers Memorial and Research Centre in either Kapit or Sri Aman, aimed at documenting history, training future generations in jungle warfare, and nurturing a sense of military pride in rural communities. 'Security must be homegrown. No one knows this land better than our own people. And no one has earned the right to defend it more than those who already gave their blood for it.' He further called for greater integration of Dayak veterans into national roles involving border defence, disaster relief, and community safety, especially in areas lacking formal security presence. Moses also identified Lt Gen (R) Datuk Stephen Mundaw, former Commander of the Eastern Field Command, as the ideal figure to lead any formal revival or institutionalisation of the Sarawak Rangers legacy. 'I served beside Datuk Stephen Mundaw. We shared trenches and walked the same trails. He is not only a respected senior officer, but a grounded and loyal son of Sarawak,' he noted. Moses concluded by stressing that Sarawak's defence role must evolve from that of a 'forgotten frontier' into a central pillar of Malaysia's overall security framework. 'Peace does not come by accident. It is paid for by men who served quietly and died anonymously. 'Let us not fail their memory. Let us give Sarawak the respect and readiness it deserves.' border security Moses Ripai PBDS Sarawak Rangers
Borneo Post
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
PBDS welcomes S'wak seat increase but warns against unequal rural development funding
Moses questions the fairness of the redelineation exercise and stresses that it must be followed by urgent reforms in the allocation of rural development funds. SIBU (July 10): Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) has welcomed the recent approval of the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill 2025, which will increase the number of Sarawak state seats from 82 to 99, calling it a positive step toward greater democratic representation, especially for rural communities. However, the party voiced strong concerns over the reported allocation of the 17 new constituencies, alleging that the majority appear to favour Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), the leading party in the ruling coalition. PBDS president Major (R) Moses Ripai questioned the fairness of the redelineation exercise and stressed that it must be followed by urgent reforms in the allocation of rural development funds. 'While we welcome the increase in seats, the government must not stop at redrawing political lines. If they redraw boundaries on paper, then they must also redraw their priorities for the people, especially those in rural Sarawak who have long been forgotten,' he said. Moses criticised the current model of funding under the Minor Rural Project (MRP) and Rural Transformation Programme (RTP), where every assemblyman receives equal allocations, regardless of the size or development needs of their constituencies. 'It makes no sense that an urban seat like Satok, which is fully equipped and covers only 10 square kilometres, gets the same budget as Telang Usan or Belaga, which span thousands of kilometres of difficult terrain and scattered settlements,' he said. 'You cannot give the same budget to Satok and Telang Usan, just as you cannot give the same pair of shoes to a child and a giant. That is not equality; it is negligence,' he added. Moses further described the redelineation exercise as 'political cosmetic surgery', if it is not accompanied by fair resource distribution. 'It looks like change, but nothing reaches the bones of the people. What Sarawak needs is not more control by one party, but more justice, more equity, and real transformation,' he stressed. PBDS proposed a comprehensive review of the MRP and RTP allocation formula, urging the state government to adopt a needs-based model that considers geographical area, population size, number of kampungs or longhouses, infrastructure conditions, and access to basic utilities. Moses also urged the government to extend equal development attention to areas like Kapit, Hulu Rajang, Sri Aman, and Serian, which face even harsher conditions compared to more politically favoured divisions. 'The Dayak people have waited too long for a fair share of this land we helped build. This time, we are not asking; we are rising. 'We will not allow redelineation to become a tool of political monopoly. PBDS is ready to rise, contest, and offer authentic Dayak leadership rooted in integrity,' he said. PBDS reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the newly created constituencies serve as platforms for meaningful development, not mere electoral arithmetic. 'True representation must come with development, equity, and dignity for the people of rural Sarawak,' added Moses. Moses Ripai PBDS redelineation rural development seats increase
Free Malaysia Today
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Ensure Dayaks are fairly represented in assembly seats, says PBDS
Voters going to the polls in the 2021 Sarawak state assembly elections. PETALING JAYA : The Dayak community, Sarawak's largest indigenous group, must be fairly represented when state assembly seats are redrawn in an impending redelineation, Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak said today. John Brian Anthony. Party chairman John Brian Anthony said that Dayaks had long been underrepresented, especially in rural areas, due to poor accessibility and limited public services. 'Any new delineation must correct these disparities by ensuring greater proportionality in seat distribution,' he was quoted as saying by Dayak Daily. 'Any new boundaries must not arbitrarily divide longhouses, customary lands, or traditional Dayak territories.' He said the state government and Election Commission (EC) must respect native customs and that the redelineation exercise must not be used to fragment cultural and social cohesion. He called for a thorough review of Dayak-majority areas to reflect the actual demographic pattern and cultural identity of these constituencies. Dayak organisations, local leaders, and community representatives should be formally included in public hearings during the redelineation exercise, he said. 'This is essential to build trust, prevent gerrymandering, and ensure legitimacy in the outcome.' Sarawak's state assembly seats were last redrawn in a redelineation exercise in 2015. A fresh redrawing can now be carried out, with the expiry of an eight-year moratorium between redelineations. Sarawak currently has 82 state seats, an increase from the initial 48 constituencies for its first state assembly elections in 1969. The electoral boundaries of the 82 Sarawak state assembly constituencies in the 2021 state election. (Wikipedia pic) The GPS-led state government is expected to ask the state assembly at a special sitting tomorrow to increase the size of the assembly to 99 seats. Earlier this year, Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg, who is Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman, said the EC had informed the state government of the possibility of a revision to Sarawak's electoral boundaries. He said discussions will be held with GPS partners before a redelineation proposal is submitted to the EC.
Borneo Post
06-07-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Tax policy must not leave indigenous communities behind, PBDS warns
Dr John Brian Anthony KUCHING (July 7): Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) has voiced deep concern over the implementation of the Sales and Services Tax (SST) effective July 1, warning that the policy risks could intensify economic hardship for the rural Dayak population in Sarawak. PBDS Permanent Chairman, Dr John Brian Anthony, stressed that the broad application of the SST could further marginalise indigenous communities, who are already struggling with low income levels, high living costs, and limited infrastructure. 'While we understand the government's need to strengthen national revenue through taxation, such fiscal policies must not come at the expense of the socio-economic wellbeing of rural Sarawakians,' said Dr John in a statement. He noted that many rural Dayaks depend on subsistence farming, manual labour, and small-scale trade, making them particularly vulnerable to price increases resulting from the SST. Dr John further explained that this impact is in stark contrast to urban communities, which have more diversified economic opportunities. He also criticised the lack of targeted exemptions and the absence of meaningful consultation with native leaders prior to the tax's implementation. 'There was no proper consultation with indigenous stakeholders. A one-size-fits-all approach shows a serious disconnect from realities on the ground,' he asserted. He also cautioned that the SST may undermine the inclusive development goals outlined under the Malaysia Madani framework. For that, he called upon the federal and Sarawak governments to introduce exemptions for essential goods and services used in rural areas, and to establish a Rural Economic Impact Assessment Committee to examine how national fiscal measures affect indigenous populations. He also called for increased in rural subsidies, development grants, and continuous engagement with Dayak leaders and civil society organisations in policy development. 'Economic justice is integral to indigenous rights, while development cannot be considered fair if it leaves the rural poor behind,' he said. 'Dayak voices matter and PBDS demands inclusive fiscal policies,' he added, reiterating the party's commitment to defending indigenous interests.
Borneo Post
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
PBDS backs revival of Sarawak Rangers as state-level security force
Dr John Brian Anthony KUCHING (July 5): Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) has voiced strong support for the re-establishment of the Sarawak Rangers as a state-level defence and civil security force, said its permanent chairman Dr John Brian Anthony. He said a revived Sarawak Rangers could complement the national defence force as a state-level paramilitary or auxiliary unit would be well-suited to assist in disaster response, border control, and rural surveillance, particularly given Sarawak's vast and unique terrain. 'PBDS believes this proposed Sarawak Rangers force could work alongside national military and civil defence forces, especially under the structure of Territorial Army (Wataniah) or Auxiliary Police, but with its own Sarawakian identity, mission, and command elements,' he said in a statement. He also said Sarawak Rangers are a symbol of Dayak honour and warriorhood. 'Reviving them would preserve and dignify this legacy, giving new meaning and purpose to the younger generation of Dayaks,' he said. He also suggested that training and recruiting local Sarawakians into such a force could create jobs, instill discipline, and help reduce social issues such as rural unemployment and substance abuse. According to him again, Sarawak Rangers is rooted in Sarawak's historical legacy and tailored to its unique geographical, cultural, and security needs. 'The Sarawak Rangers were once the pride of the state – a highly disciplined, locally trained unit composed largely of Dayak warriors, especially from the Iban community, known for their bravery, jungle warfare skills, and loyalty. 'Their service in major conflicts – from the Brooke era, World Wars, to the Malayan Emergency and the Confrontation with Indonesia – proves their value not just in Sarawak, but to the entire nation,' he said. On Wednesday, federal Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said it is both timely and necessary to explore the revival of the Sarawak Rangers as the state's internal security corps. The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) secretary-general stressed, however, that such a move should not be misconstrued as an attempt to create a rival force to the Malaysian Army. Nanta made the remarks in a Facebook post, responding to an announcement by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg during the Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit (UPKS) 8th anniversary dinner on Tuesday.
