Understanding history of their civilisation key to Bidayuh’s future success – Manyin

KUCHING: The Bidayuh, one of the native communities in Sarawak with a population of about 220,000, need to understand the history of their civilisation to continue to be successful, said state Education, Science and Technological Research Minister, Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong.

“The Bidayuh have at least 200 years of history of their culture but the history of their civilisation (were not recorded). Hopefully, one day, we can chart the history of our civilisation, just like the Chinese who have 5,000 years of it,” he said.

Speaking at the launching of two books, entitled “Pingunai Ikonomik Bisingai De Joman Omba” (Economic Activities of the Bisingai, a Bidayuh Clan, in the Past) and “Oran Pingoma Ta” (Our Elders) here last night, he said books about the Bidayuh were actually based on oral history with no written records.

Yet, he said, it remained important for the community’s present generation to know their history and way of life in the past in order to avoid any major mistakes that had been committed when planning for a successful future.

“To succeed in future, it is important for us Bidayuh to know our history, to know what happened in the past so that we know exactly who we are, what were our mistakes and our stance and from there, we can plan our future,” he said.

Manyin, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) senior vice-president, said the Bidayuh’s overly accommodative nature could also be one of the community’s weaknesses, particularly in their political involvement that could affect their unity.

“Just name any political party (in Sarawak), there are Bidayuh in PBB, SUPP (Sarawak United People’s Party, PRS (Parti Rakyat Sarawak), PSB (Parti Sarawak Bersatu), DAP (Democratic Action Party), PDP (Progressive Democratic Party), PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) and even in PAS (Parti Se-Islam Malaysia),” he added.

He also said that weaknesses would pose some challenges that needed to be dealt with by the community over the next 20 years to be able to compete with the other communities in the country. -Bernama