Johor Ibans make headway

Govt gives 40,000-strong community two penghulus and a commissioner of oath

LITTLE SARAWAK: A colourful scene of the packed Iban Sunday market at Pasir Gudang, Johor. — Photo by Churchill Edward
JOHOR BAHRU: The Ibans, especially in Pasir Gudang here, have successfully convinced the Johor government to allocate them two posts for penghulu and one for commissioner of oath to serve their growing community in Johor.
A group of them requested for the posts through the Sarawak bureau of the Barisan Nasional component, the People’s Progressive Party (BSPPP).
Their main reason is their sizeable migrant population – about 40,000 – according to the bureau chief Mathiew Usun. Johor has population of 4.8 million.
The other reason was many of them made up Johor’s large blue-collar workforce in the construction, engineering and port-related sectors, he said.
“Some of us have ventured into business and contributed to the economic development of Johor in our own special ways,” he said at the Persada Borneo Johor (PBJ) Sunday Market on Nov 4.
At the moment, the bureau was still identifying the potential candidates before making recommendations to the government through PPP, he said.
He pointed out that these latest developments were the fruits of the bureau and PBJ’s efforts ever since the BSPPP and PBJ were formed in January and March, respectively.
Mathiew explained that requests (for the three posts) to the Johor government through PPP and the Jabatan Mukim-Mukim (District Department) were made in September and confirmed the following month.
On the importance of politics to improving the community’s social development, he said: “We have to join a Semenanjung-based BN component and opt for the PPP because it’s multi-racial and its president Datuk M Kayveas is a very approachable person. He genuinely struggles for our cause in Johor.”
He pointed out that PPP leaders had helped them negotiate with the Johor government for the posts of penghulu and commissioner of oath to benefit the Iban community in the long term.
The main criterion for the penghulu posts is the holders must be well-versed in native laws on Iban cultures and traditions apart from having good character.
“The penghulus must be socially and politically active in a good way and have the right attitude. They must be respected gentlemen,” Mathiew said.
He disclosed that he already had a few persons in mind but refrained from naming them as it may be “politically sensitive.”
The penghulus would manage the general affairs of the Iban community as a whole while the commissioner of oath would handle issues on marriage, divorce and death in Johor, he said.
The penghulus would be appointed to serve in two regions – Johor Jaya and Kota Masai.
One may also be entrusted with managing the affairs of the Ibans from the northern region of Sarawak while the other from the southern region Mathiew said, adding that presently these were just proposals subject to suggestions.
“While the BSPPP is still identifying the candidates, we want the potential ones to come forward and project themselves so that we could have more options. This is perhaps our biggest challenge yet.”
Mathiew, a partner in an advertising firm, is also PBJ advisor.
Abet Achoh, a civil engineer, is his deputy in BSPPP, and the secretary-general of PBJ. Both are PPP supreme council members.
The PBJ chairman is a cement mixer owner and driver, John Chandang.
PBJ which looks after the welfare of Iban hawkers and small-and-medium industries entrepreneurs, was incepted in March when Mathiew and Abet teamed up with Chandang and several Iban traders to set up an Iban-concept Sunday Market at Taman Megah Ria, Jalan Bayan 31, Pasir Gudang.
The market at a parking bay, surrounded by four blocks of shophouses, is opened daily from 6.30am to noon. However, a check on November 4 showed that most items on sale were snapped up by 8am.
Abet said the market - Pasar Tamu Minggu - was set to enable members and other enterprising Ibans in Johor to sell their jungle produce, vegetables and Sarawakian delicacies, including the popular kolo mee and pansuh (meat cooked inside bamboo).
The PBJ saw economic potential in the market because of abundant saleable jungle produce and the strong purchasing power of the Ibans in Johor, Abet noted.
At the moment, the market catered for 64 stalls, including five each for the Malay, Chinese and Malay communities, he said.
“Apart from being a meeting point for the Ibans from all over Johor, the Pasar Tamu is also a venue for social interaction and for friends or relatives to catch up. Moreover, it is a trading post where demand always exceeds supply.”
He said a trader could make a profit of RM600 on average every Sunday at the market.
“Items are snapped up in only two hours. Rain or shine, the market goes on.
“The most sought after vegetable is the ensabi because of its medicinal values,” he said.
According to Abet, to maintain its Iban identity, the PBJ has created a quota system of five stalls each for the Malays, Chinese and Indians.
On Nov 4, the BSPPP handed over 400 membership applications to PPP Johor. Abet presented them to the vice chairman GS Maniam.
Mathiew, PSJ committee members, Findley Riji and Pali Usek, PPP branch Nusa Damai branch chairman, N Gunamani, Tamil-medium daily Makkal Ossai reporter C Rasamanikam, Sarawak’s The Borneo Post senior reporter Churchill Edward witnessed the presentation.
According to Abet, there are now 1,500 Ibans in PPP Johor but the BSPPP’s long-term target is 5,000 members.
Dedicated to help his community, Abet said he wanted all Ibans now residing in Johor to join the BSPPP or at least the PBJ for their social betterment and their children’s future.
Like Mathiew, Abet he believed in participating in local politics to improve the social development of the Iban community in general.