KUCHING: Disappointed, saddened, upset, dismayed, and shocked were among the words used in response to a recently released school holiday video in which Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik only mentioned Hari Raya Aidilfitri but failed to acknowledged Gawai Dayak and Pesta Keamatan which are major ethnic festivals in Sarawak and Sabah.
He did not say to Dayak and Kadazandusun teachers and students “Happy Gawai Dayak” and “Happy Pesta Keamatan” in the video message which irked several parties including PAS Sarawak, Bintulu branch and Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB).
“It was quite a shock when the education minister failed to mention Gawai Dayak and Pesta Kaamatan in his school holiday video message to teachers and students,” said PBDSB president Bobby William.
Bobby said he was very disappointed that Maszlee neglected to mention native teachers and students in Sarawak and Sabah who are going to have their school holiday which coincides with the Gawai Dayak and Kaamatan festivals.
“Was the video meant for Malaya only or for the whole of Malaysia?” he asked, adding that he was surprised upon realising that Gawai Dayak and Kaamatan were not acknowledged at all by the minister,” said Bobby.
“I think most of us were surprised when PAS Sarawak Bintulu branch chief, Zharudin Narudin, came up with a statement on Maszlee’s video.”
He pointed out that Sarawak has always been a secular democratic nation due to the multi-racial make-up and non-religious nature of its people among whom peace and harmony has survived longer than the time Malaysia has existed.
The state has more than 28 ethnic groups. They are proud of their respective uniqueness, but collectively they proudly identify as Sarawakians who know that they need one another to progress.
“We don’t speak on behalf of native Sabahans but we believe that they feel the same way too,” said Bobby.
“We concur with PAS Sarawak’s comments with regards to Maszlee’s lack of socio-political sensitivity and awareness. We are not nit-picking. It’s just that leaders in a multi-racial and multi-religious country like ours are expected to behave and speak in certain acceptable ways so as not to offend any race or religious group,” he said.
“Can you blame Sarawak and Sabah natives for being sensitive, having long endured so many disadvantages after having been short-changed in various aspects following the formation of Malaysia?” Bobby asked.
He said whether Maszlee’s action was unintentional or not, he should have known better, especially as Gawai Dayak and Kaamatan are celebrated earlier than Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Hence, he said PBDSB hoped Maszlee would always been mindful that Sarawak and Sabah are very sensitive when it comes to multi-racial issues which include their festive seasons being ignored by leaders at the federal level including the education minister.
“You may say that we are being overly sensitive, but Maszlee does not need to be reminded that he’s not just a minister for Malaya, but also for Sabah and Sarawak. Even as a private citizen we would expect him to use his common sense to know that Gawai is a big deal in Sarawak and the same for Kemaatan in Sabah.”
According to Bobby Sarawakians and Sabahans have always been respectful of one another, ever careful with the way they treat other know that they are a multi-racial people.
Those are the major differences between Malayans and the people of the Borneo states,” Bobby concluded.
