Borneo natives should adopt a unified vision and mission, says Kitingan

KOTA KINABALU: Borneo's natives are making good progress towards achieving its goal of equitable development in the fields of economy social, culture and politics, says Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

However, the Sabah Deputy Chief Minister said there was a need to push it further and realise its ultimate goal for the indigenous groups from Sabah, Sarawak and the broader Borneo region.

He said the groups must continue to communicate with each other to ensure better coordination and foster stronger ties.

"For the indigenous populations of Borneo to wield greater influence in their respective territories, it is crucial for them to adopt a unified vision and mission.

"The cornerstone of this empowerment journey is the crafting of a shared identity," he said when opening the World Indigenous Day celebration themed "In Search of Common Identity" here on Tuesday (Aug 8).

He said the theme of the seminar was apt as it was important for various indigenous communities to organise themselves into associations that will be the first step forward.

"But one day, our aspiration is to witness true unity among the different ethnic groups in Borneo under the identity of 'Orang Borneo' or 'Orang Dayak'," he said at the seminar attended by participants from Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Kalimantan.

"Its primary objectives are to facilitate dialogue, promote mutual understanding among diverse indigenous factions, emphasise the importance of a collective identity, and strategise to enhance the indigenous ecosystem of Borneo," he said.

Kitingan said the seminar played a pivotal role in establishing a more effective system to communicate among different indigenous groups in Borneo.

"After establishing communication, the next priority will shift towards organising and protecting land rights and the environment.

"Currently, I believe we are already about 50% towards our goals of empowering the indigenous communities, and I anticipate reaching the 60% mark shortly.

"In the near future, celebrations such as this World Indigenous People's Day will transcend mere gatherings, symbolising noteworthy achievements and advancements for the indigenous people," he said, adding that it was important to preserve indigenous culture, language, knowledge and tradition.