SDNU proposes ‘Pendam Temuai' for non-resident Dayaks in Kuching or Samarahan
Mawan (fourth right) and Gira (fourth left) show a home-made machete souvenir gifted by villager Peter Sambang (second left) while (from left) Amarjeet, Pani, Jos, Ghani and Catherine look on.
KUCHING (May 8): Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) is planning to apply for land to set up a 'Pendam Temuai' (visitors' grave) in either Kuching or Samarahan, said its deputy president Christopher Gira Sambang.
He said this was because the SDNU graveyard located at Siol Kandis here was only, in principle, for members of the branch and their family.
Additionally, there have been no more plots available at the SDNU graveyard at Jalan Chawan.
'Of late, there have been a few cases where deceased members of the Dayak community from outside Kuching were buried at the SDNU Siol Kandis graveyard, but only on a case-by-case basis.
'The situation has now become concerning for Dayak people, especially when the deceased persons are non-residents of Kuching or Samarahan, or non-Christian. There were a few cases when non-residents (of Kuching or Samarahan) and non-Christian Dayaks who came to Kuching for medical attention suddenly passed away.
'This then caused a dilemma for the family members when they could not send their remains home outside Kuching, as there is no immediate 'Pendam Temuai' or 'Pendam Antarabangsa' (international graveyard) – unless they are Christians, the family members may be given the offer to negotiate for a plot but even then, there would be no guarantee for success and only causes anxiety,' he said.
He said as a short-term solution, the SDNU Siol Kandis graveyard should be opened to Dayaks not from Kuching or Samarahan.
Gira also suggested the graveyard committee impose an appropriate fee that is distinct from the one imposed on branch members.
He added he had made a similar call in his speech during the SDNU Siol Kandis 'Santai' programme on April 27, which the union's president Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom attended as guest-of-honour.
During the programme, Mawan pledged a RM10,000 grant to SDNU Siol Kandis, while Gira and SDNU vice president Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong both pledged RM5,000 each.
Mawan also pledged RM10,000 to the Kampung Siol Kandis village security and development committee (JKKK) and an additional RM5,000 to Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS) Siol Kandis.
Gira also pledged RM5,000 each to SDNU Central Youth wing, SIDS Siol Kandis and the Kampung Siol Kandis JKKK.
Also present were SDNU Siol Kandis branch chairman Pani Igoh, SDNU Central Youth chief Amarjeet John Gendi, SIDS Siol Kandis chairperson Catherine Jawi, Kampung Siol Kandis headman Ghani Udai, Penghulu Jos Jawa and other SDNU executive committee members. Christopher Gira Sambang Kuching-Samarahan lead Pendam Temuai SDNU
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
Mara, Higher Education Ministry closely monitoring students in US amid policy changes
PETALING JAYA: Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) will work closely with the Higher Education Ministry to monitor Mara-sponsored students currently in the United States, in light of new policies under President Donald Trump's administration. Its chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said existing students in the US have been minimally affected so far, and he hopes the situation remains that way. "The Higher Education Ministry has issued a statement that the impact on current students is minimal. However, in Mara's context, we have decided to postpone the sending of new students. "So far, the ministry has given its assurance that there will be no adverse impact (on current students), and we are working closely together. That is important, as this involves a government-to-government (G2G) arrangement. "We hope there will be no implications, though we remain concerned. Policies can change at any time, but most importantly, we do not want to expose our students to further risk," he told reporters after launching the Mara-Petronas Automotive Entrepreneur Development Programme (PUMP) here today. Also present was Petronas Lubricants Marketing Malaysia chief executive officer Mohd Zameer Zahur Hussain. Asyraf said Mara will also meet with around 200 students currently undergoing preparatory courses at Mara colleges before being sent abroad. "With the new policy under President Trump, we believe it is more appropriate and wiser to send them to countries with lower associated risks," he said. On May 28, AFP reported that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had ordered the suspension of student visa processing as the Trump administration intensified vetting of applicants' social media activity, according to an internal cable. This marks the latest move targeting international students, a major source of revenue for US universities, following Rubio's cancellation of hundreds of visas and efforts to prevent Harvard University from admitting non-American students. On June 1, Asyraf had announced that Mara would halt the sending of sponsored students to the US this year. Meanwhile, Asyraf, who is also Umno secretary-general, said turnout at recent Umno branch meetings had been overwhelming compared to previous years. He expressed confidence that the momentum would continue into the divisional meetings, ahead of the Umno General Assembly in August. "Usually, when the branches have held their meetings with such remarkable and encouraging turnout, the divisional delegates' meetings will also be just as impressive, God willing," he said. The Umno Divisional Delegates' Meetings are currently being held from June 9 until July 27. The Umno Branch Conferences were held from April 7 to May 25, 2025, while the Umno General Assembly is scheduled to take place from Aug 20 to 23, 2025. On the PUMP programme, Asyraf said 30 entrepreneurs would receive support this year under the strategic initiative which aims to to empower Bumiputera entrepreneurs in the motorcycle maintenance and repair industry through the MotoExpert brand. "Mara is offering structured technical training, rebranding of premises, and business financing facilities of up to RM300,000. "In addition, participants will receive support in terms of spare parts supply chains, image enhancement for their premises, and the development of a more efficient and competitive workshop operating system," he said. The programme is expected to boost sales by up to 30 per cent and aims to transform at least 20 Bumiputera motorcycle workshops by 2026. The initiative is also expected to create more job opportunities, particularly for graduates of TVET institutions in the motorcycle maintenance and repair sector, while increasing their potential to own workshops. The programme is open to graduates from Mara TVET institutions or other institutions who have operated a motorcycle workshop for at least six months, with an annual turnover exceeding RM360,000. Participant selection will be conducted through seminars and interview sessions in the middle of this year.
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Borneo Post
Dayak political fragmentation weakens collective strength, says PBDS leader
Dr John Brian Anthony KUCHING (June 11): The Dayak community in Sarawak remains politically fragmented despite being the largest indigenous population, said Dr John Brian Anthony. The Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) permanent chairman pointed out that internal divisions, divergent party affiliations, and historical distrust have weakened the Dayak community's collective strength. 'Many Dayak leaders hold positions across various political platforms, but the absence of a cohesive agenda has diluted our impact at both the state and federal levels,' he said in a statement today. According to him, Dayak unity is critical for asserting their political relevance, protecting indigenous rights, and ensuring equitable participation in Malaysia's development. He added that without unity, the Dayak community's voice remains scattered, and key issues—such as native customary rights (NCR) land, rural development, education, and fair economic inclusion—struggle to gain proper attention or redress. 'As a party founded to uphold and champion the voice of the Dayak community, PBDS affirms that political unity among the Dayak (community) is no longer merely desirable—it is essential for our survival, relevance, and rightful place in national progress,' he said. John reiterated that PBDS is committed to re-establishing a common platform for Dayak leaders across party lines to collaborate on shared concerns. He also said PBDS looks forward to fostering reconciliation and dialogue to heal past divisions and rebuild intra-community trust, and to draft a 'Dayak Political Charter' as a blueprint for unity, outlining common principles, goals, and policy commitments. 'A politically united Dayak community strengthens Malaysia's democracy and national unity. It guarantees better representation for Borneo's indigenous population and reinforces the spirit of inclusion and fairness in policymaking,' he said.
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Blow one's cover
ON the outskirts of Paris, 44-year-old French Muslim weightlifter Sylvie Eberena concentrates hard and pushes 80kg of bar and weights clean over her veiled head. The single mother made her four children proud when she became the French national champion in her amateur category last year, after discovering the sport aged 40. But now the Muslim convert fears she will no longer be able to compete as the French government is pushing for a new law to ban the headscarf in domestic sports competitions. 'It feels like they're trying to limit our freedoms each time a little more,' said Eberena, a passionate athlete who trains five days a week. 'It's frustrating because all we want is to do sport.' Under France's secular system, civil servants, teachers, pupils and athletes representing France abroad cannot wear obvious religious symbols, such as a Christian cross, a Jewish kippah, a Sikh turban or a Muslim headscarf, also known as a hijab. Until now, individual national sports federations could decide whether to allow the hijab in domestic competitions. But the new legislation aims to forbid the head covering in all professional and amateur competitions countrywide. Backers say that would unify confusing regulation, boost secularism and fight extremism. Critics argue it would be just the latest rule discriminating against visibly Muslim women. The bill passed in the Senate in February and is soon to go to a vote in the lower house of the French parliament. Some proponents want to stop what they call 'Islamist encroachment' in a country that has been rocked by deadly jihadist attacks in recent years. But critics point to a 2022 interior ministry report finding that data 'failed to show a structural or even significant phenomenon of radicalisation' in sport. The French football federation are among those that have already banned the headscarf. — AFP French Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner, a star of the 2024 Paris Games, said France was 'wasting its time' with such debates and should think about 'equality instead of attacking a single and same religion'. Right-wing Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau responded that he 'radically disagreed', describing the headscarf as 'a symbol of submission'. Eberena, who converted aged 19, said her head attire – allowed by the weightlifting federation – had never been an issue among fellow weightlifters. She said the sport has even allowed her to make friends from completely different backgrounds. 'Sport brings us together: it forces us to get to know each other, to move beyond our prejudices,' she said. France's football and basketball federations are among those that have banned religious symbols, including the headscarf. The country's highest administrative court in 2023 upheld the rule in football, arguing the federation was allowed to impose a 'neutrality requirement'. United Nations experts last year called the rules in both sports 'disproportionate and discriminatory'. It is difficult to estimate how many women might be prevented from competing if such legislation passes. But AFP spoke to several women whose lives had already been affected by similar rules. Samia Bouljedri, a French 21-year-old of Algerian origin, said she had been playing football for her club in the village of Moutiers for four years when she decided to cover her hair at the end of high school. She continued playing with her team, but after her club was fined several weekends in a row for allowing her on the field, they asked her to take off her hijab or quit. 'That they ended my happiness, just like that, over a scarf made me really sad,' she said. France's brand of secularism stems from a 1905 law protecting 'freedom of conscience', separating church and state, and ensuring the state's neutrality. The country's constitution states that France is a secular republic. French Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner said France was 'wasting its time' with headscarf issues and should think about 'equality instead of attacking a single and same religion'. Rim-Sarah Alouane, a researcher at University Toulouse Capitole, said the 1905 law, intended 'to protect the state against potential abuses from religion', had been 'weaponised' against Muslims in recent years. French secularism 'has been transformed into a tool in its modern interpretation to control the visibility of religion within public space, especially, and mostly, targeting Muslims,' she said. Sports Minister Marie Barsacq last month warned against 'conflating' the wearing of a headscarf with radicalisation in sport. But Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin said that if the government did not 'defend secularism', it would empower the far right. In the Oise region north of Paris, Audrey Devaux, 24, said she stopped competing in basketball games after she converted to Islam a few years ago. Instead, she continued training with her former teammates and began coaching one of the club's adult teams, she said. But when she goes to weekend games, she is not allowed onto the courtside bench with a headscarf – so she is forced to yell out instructions from the bleachers. 'At school I learnt that secularism was living together, accepting everyone and letting everybody practice their religion,' Devaux said. 'It seems to me they're slightly changing the definition.' — AFP
