Yesterday, my brother Numpang Suntai, went all the way from Sebangan to Ulu Sungai Ijok.
”The destruction of our land and forest is heartbreaking, Mut” he told me. “All this destruction for a mere 250 ringgit!” he said.Tears trickled down his cheeks when he saw what used to be a lush jungle of majestic trees is now being replaced by miles and miles of dead empty space of fallen trees and logs, mounds and mounds of bulldozed earth as mud slowly trickling down to Ulu Sebangan River and changed it to a river of yellow water and mud.
I too am crying as I wrote this because we love our land and once our ancient trees are gone, they are gone forever and no amount of money can bring them back ever again!
The Sebuyau Ibans who are closely related to each and are the descendants of Sendi and Orang Kaya Numpang are now bitter enemies, divided into two factions. This is the other heart breaking part of the Sebuyau Ibans in Sebangan. The spirit of “gutong ruyong” and comradeship is irreversibly broken. So much for 1Malaysia!
The first factions are the ones who sold out for a mere 250 ringgit to the logging company lead by Penghulu Merum and Tuai Rumah Agu and as his name implies, that is a shitty thing for anyone to do. Someone made a comment and said, “Bodoh punya Iban!!!”
Yep, they are absolutely right to give these Ibans the title “bodoh punya Iban” and “shit head” is also appropriate for this group of people. Please pardon my language as I am upset right now. They bought the entire group of people for less than one Belian tree!
The other faction is with my brother, Numpang Suntai. These are folks who refused to sell and will remain firm and resolute. Out of 16 Tuai Rumahs, only 11 remain with my brother and it is a small comfort because Quality Concrete Holdings know which families to target for the 250 ringgit “sagu ati” money and the permission to cut down their trees and destroy their lands with bulldozers.
Forestry Department now can smugly say if not for these folks who already signed off their rights to the property, the department could have stopped the logging. Baloney! Why did they issue the license in the first place?
The battle line have been drawn when Penghulu Merum told our relatives that my brother Numpang, “Nadai nemu utai, baru ga pinchin.” He implies that my brother do not know anything because he just retired.
Less than a year ago, he was a coolie working for my brother for 65 ringgit a day to oversee the construction of our home in Bajong. At 65 ringgit a day, there was no rush to finish the project so after a few months (when the roof was not even up), my brother had to let him go.
Let me brag to you about my brother Numpang Suntai. He was first the Iban Engineer from Sebuyau, educated at Linclon College, Adelaide, Australia. Prior to retirement from Shell, he was a senior staff for Health, Safety and Environment, covering area from China all down to New Zealand. His son Ben is a medical doctor specializes in neonatology medicine. His daughter Anna is also a college graduate working as a geologist for Shell. His wife was a Project Manager with Petronas.
Penghulu Merum anak Baru is also spreading the rumors that my brother is with the opposition. We do not belong to any political parties nor do we intend to affiliate with one at this time. We may support a good candidate and if we do support the opposition party, so what? It is within our basic rights in a democratic country to support any candidates of our choice.
I think a Roven who responded to the article in the Sarawak Report hit the nail on the head when he wrote,
“What happened to the big talking loud mouth Iban politicians of Barisan Nasional??
The Ibans should be blamed for electing lame and selfish traitors as Iban reps in the government!!!
As they say, the Ibans deserve the government they elect!!! Wake up and be the warriors that you Ibans are known for!!!
Stop wallowing in your past glories and allow your future generation be treated like a bunch of morons!!
Get rid of your hopeless Iban politicians!! Stop listening to your corrupt headman at the Kampung as well as at the government.”
What happened to your “AGI HIDUP” war call!! Bodoh punya Iban!!!”
Not all Iban are bodoh. Not all Ibans elect the present Government in Sarawak. As narrated in this story, it just takes a few bad and stupid ones to cause so much chaos and destruction to our forest and social harmony in Ulu Sebangan.
It takes one Taib Mahmud to own the whole entire state of Sarawak and strip us all of our NCR heritages and natural wealth.
I am Christina Suntai and I am affectionately known as “Mut’ to my siblings, relatives and close friends.
Source: dayaknation.com
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