KUCHING: A political observer urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to consider giving Cabinet posts to the minority groups in Sarawak.
Datuk Peter Minos said the two minority groups (the Bidayuh and Orang Ulu) played vital roles both in state and federal politics, thus they deserved any federal Cabinet posts.
“While our new prime minister (Anwar Ibrahim) will and must fully consider the views and requests of his own and other political parties supporting him, some considerations for the minority groups in Malaysia can and should be factored in.
“If not, the tiny minorities like the Bidayuh and Orang Ulu in Sarawak and those in Sabah can easily be left out in the federal Cabinet and administration,” he said.
Minos said if entirely on their own, and if not given a little helping and supporting hand by the new prime minister and the political parties supporting the prime minister, the small minorities will get nowhere.
“They thus badly need both consideration and a sympathetic attitude from those at the top and the big groups.
“Minorities do yearn to be part of both state and federal government. They want to be acknowledged and appreciated.
“They want participation and involvement. Thus, a little stretching of the hand by the new prime minister and the big political parties and big communities is very much needed,” he added.
Take, for example, the Bidayuhs and the Orang Ulu. He said if they are begrudgingly set aside, there is no way they can be represented in the state and federal administrations.
“They do not have the numbers and the clout to influence things around in the nation.
“Simply put, they do necessarily need help and a sympathetic hand,” said Minos.
He said Malaysia cannot be like some other countries, big and small, which take tiny minorities for granted and simply ignore them.
“That is the politics and attitude of the unwise and unconcerned,” added Minos.
Meanwhile, Sarawakians, especially from the Bidayuh communities, have called on Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg to play his part by demanding that the prime minister include representatives from the Bidayuh and Orang Ulu.
Expressing their views in their respective WhatsApp groups, they said that in the previous Cabinet, the Bidayuh and Orang Ulu communities were always included, at least by being appointed as deputy ministers.
Meanwhile, it has been reported by a news portal that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has set sights on Cabinet portfolios that can bring the most impact to Sarawak.
The portal quoted GPS secretary-general Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi as saying these portfolios include Rural Development, Plantations, Commodities and Works.
