The Sarawak Foundation (Yayasan Sarawak), which is chaired by Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem, appears to be a “racist organisation”, as its top management positions are monopolised by people from one ethnic group and religion.

It is very dangerous for the foundation to have one particular ethnic group and religion to monopolise the management positions as this will create ill feelings and unhappiness among the other ethnic groups, the Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA) warned the state government.

“The Iban, who form about 32 percent of the 2.6 million state population, are not even represented in the of Sarawak Foundation management team,” SDGA president Dr Dusit Jaul said yesterday.

Dusit was referring to the line-up of senior officers of the foundation, published in its portal recently, which is monopolised by Malays.

He said he met Land Development Minister James Masing ( right ) on the issue and urged him to bring the non-representation of the Dayak to the state cabinet meeting.

Dusit said: “Our current chief minister could in fact elevate his leadership of all Sarawakians to a higher level if he remedies the sad situation at Yayasan Sarawak.

“The monopolising of all the senior management positions by one particular ethnic group and religion is a very dangerous situation as the state gears itself to face the next state election.

“This kind of situation creates ill-feeling and unhappiness among other ethnic groups, especially the Iban, who are not represented in the Yayasan Sarawak management team.

“Being a fair minded and inclusive leader as he had proven thus far, SDGA calls upon our chief minister to immediately rectify the ethnic bias at the foundation.”

Revenue from timber logged on Dayak land

He pointed out that the Sarawak Foundation revenues are derived from timber cess through logging activities carried out, mostly in interiors of the state where the Dayak reside, and their livelihoods are very much affected by logging activities.

Established 42 years ago, the foundation’s objectives are to grant scholarships or to provide financial assistance of any form to any person born in Sarawak in particular, and to any Malaysian citizen in general, to pursue their education in schools, colleges, universities or institutions of higher learning within Malaysia.

It was also to actively promote the improvement of opportunities for education for the peoples of Sarawak in particular, and Malaysia in general, both locally and in any institution of higher learning throughput the world, but especially at the universities in Malaysia.

The foundation every year dishes out some RM35 million in higher education loans and scholarships and over the past five years, some 16,660 Sarawakians have received such financial aid.

Dusit added: “As far as SDGA is concerned, there should be no place for bigotry and religious extremism here in Sarawak. Let us, Sarawakians, show to the rest of the world that we can become the real model of a living multiculturalism.”