Member of the DPR-RI (the Republic of Indonesia parliament), West Kalimantan, Daerah Pemilihan (constituency) I , Drs. Cornelis, M.H, put forward. “Ready or not, the Dayak people must be ready to receive the National Capital in Paser Penajam, East Kalimantan.”
At the same time he reminded that, “Don’t sell the land, so there’s nothing left. Because land and nature are part of Dayak human life.”
He stated, “The Dayak people, as heirs and original inhabitants of Borneo, should not be landless. If there is bare ground, plant, plant, one more time: plant! Plant anything! After a while, someone owned the empty land. I don’t want us Dayak people to be like dead chickens in a rice barn.”
The Dayak people are the owners of the island of Borneo. This is not a figment of the imagination, but the results of cultural anthropology and anthropology research, with a carbon test. However, it is really sad that in the country of Pancasila – which values differences and diversity, the Dayak people are like foreigners in their birthplace and homeland.
Even the target to be eliminated slowly, through various efforts, is very, very real. One of them was in the past by eliminating cultural customs such as the demolition of long houses and marginalization from various dimensions, especially in the political field.
It is certain that all efforts and forms of neglecting rights, marginalizing and alienating the Dayak people in their own land cannot be tolerated. No one cares about the fate of the Dayak people,
except for the tribe itself.
Outsiders from Kalimantan should know that this land is an inheritance belonging to the Dayak people. Dayak people have the same rights as Indonesian citizens. There should be no discrimination and racism. There is no
other way, the Dayak must be able to take part and control all sectors.
The Dayak community must work together and must not just sit idly by. However, for that, there must be a leader who is strong and has character. Those who are ready to take on the
cultural duties and responsibilities of the Dayak people in Kalimantan.
It is there that the National Dayak Traditional Council (Majelis Adat Dayak Nasional – MADN), as an organization, has a role. So that each member, like a body, lives and develops according to their respective functions and duties.
In that case, the President of MADN gave up all attributes, especially political and religious interests.
The Dayak community must work together and must not just sit idly by. However, for that, there must be a leader who is strong and has character. Those who are ready to take on the cultural duties and responsibilities of the Dayak people in Kalimantan.
“MADN, or the Dayak Customary Council, must be involved. Or be proactive in all processes and activities of IKN development. Do not become spectators of development and progress in your own ancestral lands,” said the Governor of West Kalimantan (2008–2018).
“We, the governors of Kalimantan, have started to open the trans-Kalimantan route. This development is part of the realization of Nawacita, building Indonesia from the periphery. Now what used to be the periphery has become the center,” he explained.
“In the past we asked for development. If now development comes, and investment comes in, it’s time to be rejected,” explained Cornelis. While reminiscing, when he was going to build the Tayan Bridge, he was busy making presentations abroad to convince investors.
“The Center (Government) should not be opposed, but befriended. If not, where will the funds be disbursed for development?”
