KUCHING: Striking the iron when it is still hot.
That was probably what the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) did to get the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to approve a state government grant worth RM16 million for DBNA to embark on its long overdue community hostel building project.
Abang Johari brought cheers to the Bidayuh community when he made the announcement during the DBNA New Year Gathering 2020 cum 65th anniversary dinner at DBNA multi-purpose hall here Friday night.
He said the announcement he made in front of some 1,000 Bidayuhs at the function was not hot air but will definitely be delivered this year.
DBNA advisor and State Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Datuk Sri Michael Manyin when met after the function told New Sarawak Tribune that he and the whole of the Bidayuh community were very happy with the announcement of the grant by the chief minister, adding that he was confident that the pledge would be delivered.
He said the chief minister is very generous to the community and wanted to work together with the Bidayuhs in developing the state and uphold peace and unity in the state.
Hence, Manyin urged the Bidayuh community to continue supporting the GPS state government under the leadership of Abang Johari.
“We are very happy and we thank him (the chief minister) for the RM16 million grant. We will continue to work with him but our task is to make sure we deliver our seat to GPS.
“It is not enough just to say thank you but that ‘thank you’ must be translated into votes (for GPS),” he added.
Meanwhile DBNA president Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik told New Sarawak Tribune that the association had a very meaningful 65th anniversary celebration with the attendance of the chief minister who had generously approved the RM16 million grant for the association’s community hostel building.
“We hope with the community hostel we will be able to do more programmes and activities, not only for the urban Bidayuh but also for those who come down from the rural areas and need a place to stay and this is where we can provide them with affordable accommodation.”
Ik Pahon said the building plan was ready and would be submitted to the State Plannning Authority (SPA) for approval.
He said the proposed eight-storey community hostel building will be built on the site of the existing two-storey building which houses the association’s head office and hostels.
Thus, he said the present building which was built in 1982 have to be demolished, adding that it will take 18 months to construct the new building.
“Hopefully by the end of 2021 the building can be ready if we can start it by this year,” said IkPahon, who is the deputy State Secretary.
DBNA mooted the community hostel building in 2007.
In 1963, the DBNA built its first wooden headquarters at a piece of land given by the Sarawak government at Jalan Ong Tiang Swee, Kuching at a cost of RM13,000 under the chairmanship of OKP Dukau Bajag and assisted by Geris Nian, Nakid Migen, Dustin Sirau, Michael Jesseng and Vincent Grene Sirau.
It was officially opened on Dec 28, 1963 by the first Chief Minister Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan. This was the very first project set up by the Bidayuhs, a powerful sign of Bidayuh unity in action.
In 1982, another bigger headquarters building was built at a cost of RM500,000 under the helm of Datuk Wilfred Nissom and assisted by Datuk Stephen Jussem Dundon, Nicholas Gunjew, Datuk Peter Minos and Austin Dimin. It was officially opened on July 3, 1982.
Besides
the present headquarters building, DBNA also have its multi-purpose hall
which was built in 2010 costing RM3.67 million and completed in 2011.
