KUCHING: The Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) has been unfairly blamed for not being strong enough in getting Mas Gading MP Datuk Dr Tiki to remain in the federal cabinet, an official of the association said yesterday.

Its vice-president Jameson Ahip Nawie told The Borneo Post this when asked to elaborate on a certain statement contained in a DBNA press release issued here yesterday.

“The community has blamed us (DBNA) for not being strong enough to support Dr Tiki. But how can we say much on the appointment when we are just volunteers (NGO)?” he said when contacted.

(Appointment of members of the federal cabinet is the prerogative of the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi following recommendations by political parties forming the government.)

Ahip clarified that the press statement did not suggest what he personally thought of Dr Tiki but disclosed what the Bidayuh community had thought about DBNA over the community’s non-representation in the federal cabinet.

He also rejected the suggestion that Abdullah was annoyed with DBNA to the extent that he dropped Dr Tiki from his cabinet.

“We are just saying (in the press release) that the community has blamed DBNA. But it is unfair,” he said without telling possible reasons why Dr Tiki was dropped by Abdullah from his cabinet. As a result, the community lost what looks to be their only chance (through Dr Tiki) to be represented in the federal cabinet.

Dr Tiki’s first federal cabinet post was as Deputy Minister of Unity and National Integration before being appointed Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development.

An MP for Mas Gading since he got elected in the 1999 parliamentary election, Dr Tiki is currently Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) vice-president.

SPDP has recommended his name along with four others on the party list of potential candidates for either senator or deputy minister post. However two other MPs were appointed while another party member was appointed senator.

In yesterday’s press release, aimed at announcing DBNA’s forthcoming triennial delegates’ conference (TDC), Ahip said the association had been put under tremendous pressure to play a more active role in articulating the welfare and interests of the community.

According to the press release, the pressure is being felt more now because the community has also blamed DBNA for the decision of the Prime Minister to drop Dr Tiki - the first Bidayuh MP in the federal cabinet - from his (Abdullah) present cabinet.

“The delegates’ conference is being held against the backdrop that the association is being put under tremendous pressure to play a more active role in articulating the welfare and interests of the community.

“For example, the association was partly blamed for the decision of the Prime Minister to drop Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe, MP for Mas Gading and former Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development from his present cabinet,” Ahip said.

Despite the political “backdrop”, some DBNA members interviewed were happy with the present central executive committee (CEC) led by civil servant Ik Pahon Joyik. Pahon is permanent secretary to the Ministry of Social Development and Urbanisation.

They are particularly happy with the CEC for its ability to raise funds to renovate the headquarters building and upgrade its facilities, he said.

The TDC, themed ‘Building a more progressive and industrious Bidayuh community towards 2020 and beyond’, will be officiated by Environment and Public Health Minister Datuk Michael Manyin Jawong. Manyin, also chief advisor of DBNA, will be giving a keynote address on the first day of the TDC, Ahip pointed out.

“Most consider the current CEC as the most active since its bumper years in the mid-70s and 80s,” he said.

Ahip, who is also TDC secretariat 2008 coordinator, said the TDC will be held on June 28 and 29 at its headquarters here.

The two-day TDC will be attended by delegates and observers from the association’s 21 divisions, including the newly formed Klang Valley division. The TDC would consider various motions and resolutions pertaining to the welfare and interests of the community, Ahip added.