06/08/2025
The Speech of Yang Berbahagia Datuk John Tenewi, Chairman of DBLS during the DBLS inaugural dinner (26 July 2025)
Seramat ngumi duoh seramat nug nudu suo dep ingan de oggi dati. Ku ningga mua geh kiang dep te dati ngumi itis. Oggi de suo B**g Bratak, oggi de suo B**g Gading, oggi suo B**g Jagoi, oggi de suo B**g Muan, oggi de suo B**g Pueh, oggi geh de suo B**g Singai.
Welcome to all of you from the various b**g as well those of you from the non-B**g.
Special welcome to our Guest of Honour, YB Datuk Dr. Jerip Susil, Deputy Minister of Transport, Sarawak who is deputising for YB Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Sarawak Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, who unfortunately is not able to join us this evening.
Special welcome too to our special guests who have been so kind to honour us with their presence. I recognize YB Dr. Simon Sinang Anak Badak from N21 Tebedu, YB Tuan John Anak Ilus from N23 Bukit Semuja, Temenggong Atok anak Derop, Temenggong Masyarakat Bidayuh Bahagian Kuching, Temenggong Henry Bujang Sendan, Temenggong Masyarakat Bidayuh Bahagian Serian, Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Anak Jawong, Mantan Adun N21 Tebedu, Datuk Dr. Tekhee Lafe, former Member of Parliament of Malaysia for Mas Gading and last but not least Dr. Charlie Unggang, Deputy President of of the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA). Please feel free and make yourselves at home. Hace que me casa su casa por la noce (make my home your home for the night).
As most of you are probably not yet familiar with DBLS, formally registered with the Registrar of Society on 6th August 2019, I would like to confine my speech to six areas: the genesis of DBLS, the objectives and vision of DBLS, what DBLS has done, what DBLS is going to do in the future, your support and conclusion.
Genesis of DBLS
The beginning of DBLS started on the 16th of January 2016. On this date, a group of Bidayuh, at the initiative of James Anthony, a Bidayuh from Kampung Tijirak gathered together at the DBNA Conference Room with the objective of forming a Bidayuh cooperative. I was one of those who attended this meeting, though I had no interest to be actively involved in it. The meeting ended by agreeing to form a cooperative body, Koperasi Bersatu Dayak Sarawak (KOBEDAS).
I used the opportunity of our meeting to gather several persons who I thought would be interested to join me in an informal reading group. I find reading not only a most pleasurable pursuit, but also a most meaningful one. Through reading we can acquire a lot of knowledge and perspectives in various fields. Having an informal reading group would make it even more pleasurable and meaningful. I also note that avid readers tend to be effective leaders such as Lee Kuan Yew, John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama.
So, at the conclusion of our meeting, I approached four persons who I thought would be willing to join me. These four were: James Anthony, Jane Dripin, John Francis Noyan (yet to have his doctorate degree then) and Rijeng Jahet. I had not met any of them previously. Nevertheless, with a mixture of audacity as well as reticence I suggested that we meet at Awah Café, DBNA headquarters, the following Saturday, 23rd January 2016, at 2:30 pm. They all agreed and I emphasized that I would not be reminding them.
So, came Saturday, I arrived a few minutes before 2:30 pm and sat waiting anxiously. You can imagine how relieved I felt when they all eventually turned up. At this first reading session, we decided to meet every third Saturday of the month at 2:30 at Awah Café unless it is closed. In about a year, we read many books: Dickens’ classics, business management, politics, philosophy, love stories, etc. At each session, we would exchange views on the chosen book led by a lead reader chosen at the preceding session. Discussion on the chosen book could cover any aspect: the main theme of the story, the style of writing, the main plots and sub-plots, etc.
At the end of the reading session, there would be a free flow discussion. It was at one of these free flow discussions that we decided to upgrade our informal reading session, to a more formal and elevated level, that is, a formal literary society. To pursue this, we formed a pro tem committee consisting of most of the current CC members and myself, as Chairman to draw up the draft Constitution. The Society, the Dayak Bidayuh Literary Society (DBLS) was eventually approved by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) on 6th August 2019.
Objectives of DBLS
DBLS has five main objectives:
i. To promote a literary tradition within the Bidayuh community based on Bidayuh, English, Bahasa Malaysia and other languages.
ii. To promote reading habit, public speaking and other literary genres within the Bidayuh community.
iii. To research, develop, publish, promote, protect and disseminate literary materials produced by the Bidayuh community.
iv. To develop literary talents within the Bidayuh community.
v.To complement efforts by other communities in the creation of a literary tradition for the country.
The basic idea is to make the Bidayuh community a literary society, which is knowledgeable, creative, courageous and in the end resilient. Specifically, we aim to make the Bidayuh youths to be more confident, able to express themselves effectively, verbally as well as in writing. Presently, the Bidayuh youths tended to be the most reticent compared to youths from other communities. This is generally acknowledged by Bidayuh academics.
What is the relationship between DBLS and DBNA? The two organisations are distinct, each is governed by its own constitution. However, they maintain close and collaborative relationship.Both serve the Bidayuh interests, in different fields. In fact, as DBLS has no building of its own its official address is the DBNA Hqtrs.
Vision
To have a progressive and resilient Bidayuh community with a well-developed literary culture by 2050.
The target may be too ambitious, but we feel it is better to have it high rather than low. A lot can be achieved within 25 years if we work hard, consistently,collaboratively, smartly and in unity.
What has DBLS done so far?
To be honest, we have not done much. The only thing that we have
successfully done so far is the conducting of two public speaking competitions, in collaboration with Swinburne University. The first competition involved students from SMK Serian, SMK Tebekang, SMK Tebedu and SMK Padawan. The second competition involved SMK Siburan and SMK Tun Abdul Razak. We have not done much largely due to lack of personnel and financial resources. Financially, we depend only on the registration fee of our members, RM100.00, and their annual contribution of RM50.00.
What to do in the future
I am confident that we are going to achieve more in the
future. First of all we are going to conduct our first
debating session soon. We are also going to have a
number of seminars/talks on a number of topics which we
consider would be useful for the Bidayuh community,
especially the youths. Additionally, we aim to have a
number of writing competitions. Our ongoing project, the
writing of the “History of the Bidayuh” with 10 chapters is
still ongoing. In the long run, we aim to have DBLS as one
of the main public speaking and debating centres in
Sarawak. In our fantasy dream, we even dreamed that
one day the Bidayuh could produce a Nobel Laureate.
Can our dream become a reality? Why not? After all we
have produced an Olympic champion, in the person of
Pandelela Rinong. Also, St.Lucia, an island country in the
Caribbean with a population of only about 185,000 has
produced two Nobel Laureates, in the person of Sir
William Arthur Lewis in economics and Sir Derek Alton
Walcott in literature. If St. Lucia can do it, why can’t we?
We need to create the appropriate ecosystem. In its small
way, DBLS aims to contribute in building this ecosystem.
With the right ecosystem we can produce a resilient,
knowledge, creative and courageous Bidayuh community.
Maybe, able to produce even a Nobel Laureate.
Your support
As I have just said, DBLS has many activities/projects
which it aims to do in the coming years but it has very
limited fund. Therefore, I would like to request you to
assist us financially, within your capability. Besides your
financial support we would also appreciate it if you could
spread the news about DBLS and be present at our
activities/projects. Remember, DBLS does not belong to
its Chairman and its Central Committee, but to
all Bidayuh.
Conclusion
Terima kasih ragi ingan me sua duoh kois ngumi itis.
Sokongan ingan akan ngin semangat de kois, ahli-ahli
duoh Central Committee DBLS. We will carry out more
activities/projects in the coming years. Please continue to
support us, so that together we could build a resilient,
knowledgeable, creative and courageous Bidayuh
community. I also wish to express my appreciation to the
Chairman of the DBLS Organising Committee for this
dinner tonight, Mr.William Gapor, and the members of the
Committee, who have done an excellent job in making our
dinner run smoothly and enjoyably. Thank you very much
team.
I wish all of you a pleasant and safe journey back home.
Madis-madis ku, ponu bait-bait eh tiep.
Kuching, Sat 26/July/2025
Tenewi Nuek
-Posted by Admin Telford Engan Tan
