Why bother, DPM?

Dear Reader,

I started my day quite upset.

On page 7 of the Borneo Post today, a headline screams, "Gawai Open House to feature Dayak beauties." The write-up is innocuous enough. Same old same old drivel.

But what got my boxers in a twist was the date. Yes, the date of the event. Monday 11th July. Now you tell me what is right about this date, and I will tell you what is SO wrong about it.

First of all, Gawai Dayak is well and truly over. Forty days ago, to be precise. Even in the biblical context, that is a very long time. Second, the event falls on a Monday. A Monday, when most people are at work!

And then when the news report said the Guest of Honour will be the Deputy Prime Minister, it all made sense. (Not the Prime Minister and his fat wife, mind you. No, he's too good for the Dayaks. The Dayaks do not deserve a Prime Minister to celebrate their most important festival, as far as Putrajaya is concerned.)

You see, the DPM does not care about Gawai or the Dayaks. To him, attending this event is just a formality that he must dispense with, a political expediency at best. Putrajaya needs to be seen to be giving its 'fixed deposit account holders' some face. As far as Putrajaya is concerned, Gawai Dayak is just another bothersome nuisance in its political calendar that needs to be tended to. So it can wait. At the DPM's convenience and order of priority.

What does this tell you? If the DPM really cared about Gawai or the Dayaks, do you think he would allow the event to be held forty days after Gawai and on a work day for that matter?

You think the DPM would do a Hari Raya Open House forty days after Raya, or a Chinese New Year Open House forty days after CNY?

The DPM's action is just a reflection of Putrajaya's policy towards us Sarawakians, Dayaks in particular. It is clear as daylight. We Dayaks are not important enough for Putrajaya to make our festival a priority. But what really makes me angry is that our Dayak Ministers in the BN tolerate this insult and slap-in-the-face! What happened to Dayak pride and honour? Shame, shame, shame!

Urang benong ngiling tikai, sida Putrajaya nyau deka berengkah begawai. Enda malu menteri Dayak kitai dikemelikka Putrajaya?