Published: Sunday June 21, 2009 MYT 4:45:00 PM
Objections to name change of Orang Ulu to Lun Daya
By JACK WONG
KUCHING: The proposed name change of Orang Ulu to Lun Daya has drawn strong objections from prominent Orang Ulu leaders.
The proposal was reportedly made recently by Federation of Orang Ulu Association Malaysia (FORUM) president Lihan Jok, also Telang Usan assemblyman.
Former Senator Datuk Stephen Wan Ullok, also the first secretary-general of the 43-year-old Orang Ulu National Association (OUNA), said the term Orang Ulu fitted the Kayan, Kenyah, Penan and other minor ethnic groups living in “ulu sungai’’ (upper reaches of rivers.)
He said although it was collectively agreed at a recent FORUM seminar in Miri to put a moratorium on the use of the words “Lun Daya’’ for the time being, there were mischievous people out to pursue the proposal for their own selfish agenda.
’’Is it democratic for the so-called FORUM to decide for us (Orang Ulus) without giving our people the chance to make their voices known or heard ?
’’Who are these people in the FORUM? Were they elected by the people to change our collective reference ?
’’To those who pursue their agenda, can I suggest they extend the courtesy to the Kayan, Kenyah and Penan people to take part in deciding what they want to be referred to collectively,’’ wrote Wan Ullok in an article in The Sunday Post Sunday.
Wan Ullok, the first Orang Ulu lawyer,said some people had objected to the use of “Orang Ulu’’ because implied a community that was backward.
“Kayan, Kenyah and Penan people have ‘adat’ and culture. We are proud of our songs, dances, poetry and other arts and traditions,’’ he added.
OUNA Miri chief Peter Kallang said although the majority of the participants at the the Orang Ulu cultural symposium last month had objected to the use of “Lun Daya’’ to replace ‘’Orang Ulu’’, he was perplexed that Lun Daya was used during the 5th Sarawak Cultural Symposium here last week and at official functions.
’’It seems that the name change will go ahead with or without the consent of the people,’’ he added in a press statement.
Kallang said the name Orang Ulu took a long time to bring the various diverse communities to recognise their common ground and be united.
He said many Orang Ulus had settled in cities and towns nationwide and some had migrated overseas.
He believed there was no reason for anyone of them not to be proud to be called Orang Ulu as it showed where they had come from.
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