The process, since the early days, evolved changes that used to be determined by economic activities. In other words, the structure of revenue was and still is being determined by activities of trade and industry in urban areas. Hence, the Natives, who used to make up of 80% of the rural population, started to be left behind in development. Worse in the 60s, 70s and early 80s, the rural areas did not have good infrastructure and most of them were inaccessible by roads.
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| Tun Datuk Patinggi Jugah |
For this reason, the pre - Merdeka leaders like the late Tun Datuk Patinggi Jugah, Temenggong Oyong Lawai Jau and their contemporaries realised the importance of promoting education among the rural communities. They worked hard to unite the rural Natives mainly the Ibans, Orang Ulus and others in Batang Rejang and Baram to preserve their customs and traditions and protect their customary rights over lands.
Understandably, they specifically requested that the rights of Natives over their lands must be protected with the entry of Sarawak into the Federation of Malaysia. Besides, concrete steps must be taken to help Natives in rural areas to attain the same standard of living with those in urban areas namely the non Bumiputras. Obviously, their request is being fulfilled by the government.
For example, the State government has set up Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) a statutory body with the authority to convert, through the process of development, NCR lands to become assets for the benefits of owners. The development is based on Native Estates Development Scheme, which ensures that the value of Native lands must not remain as they used to be, based on market prices that were restricted to Bumiputras only; then the value could be RM100 per acre only. LCDA is also to ensure that the development of NCR land must provide proper safeguard for the rights of owners. There is the likelihood that the owners may lose their assets and become poorer through unregulated development.
The State government, through LCDA, values NCR land, if they can be developed to become estates, based on the prevailing market values. Now the value of NCR land even in rural areas can be as high as RM1,000 to RM2,000. The good value of NCR land has become incentives for Bumiputra land owners to develop their lands instead of leaving them to remain idle.
Through the special scheme, the State government has been able to open up, in various stages of development, about 200,000 hectares of NCR land for estates. However, more than 1 million hectares of NCR lands are yet to be open up for the purpose.
Generally, leaders in the 50s and 60s like the late Tun Jugah founded their struggle based on the belief to serve the overall welfare and interests of the people. Their style of leadership can still serve as examples, though the country is migrating from the medium income to high income economy, because the foundation of sustainable development is to use the wealth and resources that are available in rural areas.
The wealth can be value-added to trigger the development of rural communities to become more progressive and prosperous towards the year 2020 and beyond. This can be achieved among ethnic groups, which have strong interests to pursue knowledge and able to recognise the advantages of having institutions of higher learning locally.
The leadership of the late Tun Jugah, founded on the experience of working with the community and the ability to know the choices of development for the people, emerged when the rural communities were still backward and Sarawak had no infrastructure at all. Then less than 10% of the rural population, which lived in settlements comprising of traditional villages and longhouses scattered over a wide area in Sarawak, could be accessible by roads. Generally, the people lived in poverty and hardship.
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| Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan |
The late Tun Jugah believed that politicians must know the needs and aspirations of the people in order to serve them well. For this reason, when he started his political struggle based on communal interests, firstly through Parti Negara, he felt it was necessary for him to set up Parti Pesaka for the purpose. However, the trend of a political struggle then was towards a struggle to serve the welfare and interests of all ethnic groups that shared common backgrounds like the Ibans, Bidayuhs, Orang Ulu and others.
Obviously, he had vast experience in the struggle to improve the livelihood of the people with greater relevance to the local situation. As an appointed member of Council Negeri by the Colonial Government, he could articulate the needs and aspirations of the rural communities. He helped the Colonial government to realise the need to have more representatives from the rural communities in order to know their needs and aspiration.
The late Tun Jugah became a leader, who could play influential roles, when the people faced the pertinent question of whether Sarawak should join the Federation of Malaysia or not. He was a strong advocate that Sarawak should join the Federation of Malaysia for its future progress and advancement.
Chief Minister, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, when asked for his comment, says the appointment of Tun Jugah as the Minister for Sarawak Affairs was most appropriate to help the Federal Government, the Prime Minister, YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman then in implementing policies that were relevant to the people, those in rural areas in particular.
He observes that the late Tun Jugah had higher thinking power based on common sense and personal experiences than those with better education than him. His appointment gave him the opportunity to help the Federal Government to implement the rural development program, which he had specifically requested to be extended to Sarawak.
He says the era of the late Tun Jugah was also the beginning of the realisation among the people that they must have common goals and objectives in development. For example, he together with other Bumiputra leaders tried to propagate an understanding that efforts must be made to preserve the Native Customary Right NCR) land. When the British expatriate officers tried to get the newly - appointed Chief Minister to amend the Land Code in 1965, they opposed the proposed amendments. Instead, they requested the State government to avoid interfering with matters relating to Native Customary Right lands prematurely.
Arguably, the leadership of the late Tun Jugah and others with him has provided a form of political stability and good leadership for Sarawak. For example, his personal observation and experience that the Dayak community comprising of the Ibans, Bidayuhs, Orang Ulu and others did not have assets to help them to participate meaningfully in the process of development, was very relevant even in the era of modern development.
For example, he successfully requested that rural development should be included in the Inter-governmental Committee (IGC) agreement for Sarawak to become a State in the Federation of Malaysia. Of course, rural development has become the strategy of development in the government’s efforts to raise the standard of living of the rural communities.
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| Tun Haji Abdul Rahman Ya’kub |
Obviously, the Tun Jugah succeeded to bring together leaders from the rural communities to join party Pesaka to make it their platform in serving their communities. Members of Parti Bumiputra, comprising of former members of Parti Berjasa and Parti Negara, also worked very hard to bring them together to pursue a common struggle in the services of the people and the State. They were urged to sink their differences arising mainly from their previous stand on pro and anti-cession immediately after the Second World War. Their success to come together, in spite of differences, proved their ability to come together for the common good.
When Dato Haji Abdul Rahman Ya’kub ( now Tun Haji Abdul Rahman Ya’kub) became the Chief Minister in the 70s, discussions were conducted between Parti Pesaka and Parti Bumiputra to merge the two parties. The successful merger brought about the formation of Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) until today. The party could have its own majority and provide stability to Sarawak. However, it is committed to work with other component parties of Barisan Nasional in the services of the people, state and country.
benuasains
*Photos Source:
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http://ayards.blogspot.com
http://ayards.blogspot.com
http://keranjaimanok.blogspot.com/2009/02/tun-jugah.html
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