KUCHING: The government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim must continue to prioritise unity, racial harmony and inclusiveness, says the Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).
Its secretary-general Libat Langub said this is in line with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's decree for the unity government to be inclusive.
"(Inclusiveness) will ensure our country's good reputation internationally and help propagate racial and social harmony for the betterment of our economy," he said in a statement on the occasion of the government's 100 days in office on Saturday (March 4).
Libat praised the government for making good on most of its pledges to implement the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), including decentralising important administrative powers to Sarawak.
"We hope the Prime Minister will work on his assurance that he will, among others, protect the rights of the natives of Sabah and Sarawak as enshrined in the Federal Constitution and that Malaysians, particularly those in Sabah and Sarawak, would not be marginalised under his administration," he said.
Libat also called on the government to continue developing stronger ties with Sarawak for the betterment of Sarawakians.
He said the appointment of Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof from Sarawak as Deputy Prime Minister gave the state a stronger representation in the Federal Government.
"We hope this will benefit the people of Sarawak and put us on an equal footing with Peninsular Malaysia," he said.
However, Libat said DCCI was concerned that various economic policies over the years had not significantly uplifted Sarawak's Dayak community, which was still left behind in socioeconomic terms.
He reiterated DCCI's call for a specific economic agenda or policy to address issues affecting the Dayak business community by setting up a special Dayak unit under the Prime Minister's Department.
"Such a move will help narrow the existing economic gap in terms of overall business participation between the Dayak and other business communities," he said.
