|
History of DBNA
-
In the early 1950's,
a group of Bidayuh intellectuals realized that "the Bidayuhs must be
united because they were separated by dialects, distance and religions".
The group (Helbourne Simigat, Wesley Harlon Timor and Augustine Sirau
led by Ahguan Guga) were worried that a fragmented Bidayuh Community
would not only be easily exploited but would be left far behind in the
mainstream of development.
They therefore decided
to bring the various Bidayuh dialectical group under one umbrella body.
That body was registered on 22 September 1955 as the Bidayuh National
Association under the then Societies Ordinance 1947. Thus was born a new
consciousness and awakening in the Bidayuh hinterland of their own
identity, heritage and existence as a COMMUNITY.
The first
Committee
Ahguan Guga
- President,
Nakid Mingen
- Vice-President,
Augustine Sirau
- Secretary,
Wesley Harlon Timor - Treasurer,
Helbourne Simigat,
William Nais, OKP Dukau ak Bajag, Geris Nian, Micheal Jesseng Langgie,
Vincent Greene Sirau, Ju Inn Ang and Rhoda Simigat went from kampung to
kampung spreading the message, hoping to change the mindset and
attitudes of the Bidayuh and gathering new members.
From the very
beginning they saw the need for a lodging / rest house to be built as a
transit point for members of the Community who require temporary
accommodation whilst in Kuching. They therefore applied to the then
colonial Government for a piece of land to build a Community rest house.
After many disappointments, their application for a piece of land at Ong
Tiang Swee Road was finally approved and the land title issued on 25
July 1962.
The "catch"-they had
to build the rest house within 2 years from the date of alienation.
Under the chairmanship of OKP Dukau ak Bajag and assisted by Geris Nian,
Nakid Migen, Dustin Frank Sirau, Micheal Jesseng Langgie and Vincent
Greene Sirau, they had to "sweat and toil" and some even had to spent
their own money to build DBNAís first rest house / headquarters at Ong
Tiang Swee Road to avoid forfeiture and re-entry by the authorities.
Finally, the rest
house was completed and the Occupation Permit issued on 4 December 1963.
The cost: RM13,000.00. The DBNA headquarters / rest house was officially
declared open on 28 December 1963 by the first Chief Minister of
Sarawak, the honourable Datuk Stephen Kalong Ningkan.
The completion of the
DBNA headquarters / rest house under very difficult circumstances was a
powerful sign of Bidayuh unity in action.
Since then, DBNA
continued to grow from strength to strength. In 1982, under the
leadership of Wilfred Rata Nissom (and assisted by Stephen Jussem
Dundon, Nicholas T Gunjew, Peter Minos and Austin Dimin), a bigger
premises was built at the same place at the cost of RM0.50 million. The
building was officially declared open by the Honourable the Chief
Minister of Sarawak on 3 July 1982. This building (which was renovated
in February 1995 and extended with a Baruk / Panggah) is what we have
today.
In 1983, the DBNA
Constitution was revised. Under the revised Constitution, a
re-organization of the branches and units was effected. The objectives
of DBNA were also expanded and its powers explicitly spelt out. The
Constitution was again amended to extend the term of office of the
Central Executive Committee from 2 to 3 years and for the Delegates
Conference to be held every 3 years. The amendment came into effect on
11 January 1996.
Since its
establishment in 1955, DBNA was served by nine Presidents to date
|
Nine
Presidents to date
|
|
|
|
|
Ahguan
Guga
|
1955 - 1963
|
|
Micheal Paong
Nissom
|
1964 - 1966
|
|
Ritikos
Jitab
|
1967 - 1970
|
|
Datuk Robert
Jacob Ridu
|
1971 - 1972
|
|
Datuk Dominic
Dagok ak
Randan
|
1973 - 1975
|
|
Wilfred Rata
Nissom
|
1976 - 1987
|
|
Peter
Minos
|
1988 - 1995
|
|
Detta
Samen
|
1996 - 1998
|
|
Dr James Dawos
Mamit
|
1999 - 2001
|
|
Ik Pahon Joyik
|
2005
till now
|
|
|
|
Secretaries /
Secretary-Generals |
|
|
|
|
Augustine
Sirau
|
1955 - 1956
|
|
Frank Dustin
Sirau
|
1957 - 1965
|
|
Robert Sulis
Ridu
|
1966 - 1969
|
|
Joseph C
Sijore
|
1970 - 1971
|
|
Robert Sulis
Ridu
|
1972 - 1974
|
|
Nicholas Tukak
Gunjew
|
1975 - 1981
|
|
Austin
Dimin
|
1982 - 1987
|
|
Roland
Sagah
|
1988 - 1990
|
|
Detta
Samen
|
1991 - 1995
|
|
James Redas
Noel
|
1996 - 1998
|
|
John W Chamberlin
Sirau
|
1999 - 2001
|
|
Walter Dior
|
2005
till now
|
|
|
|
Today, DBNA has 16
branches and 12 units throughout Sarawak (including the Women's Branch,
which was originally formed as an independent Bidayuh Women Fellowship.
Except for the Womenís Branch, the branches were established based on
the administrative districts of Sarawak.
The 16 branches
and 6 units are:
| |
BRANCH |
DATE OF
ESTABLISHED |
UNIT |
DATE OF
ESTABLISHED |
|
1. |
Bau |
1967 |
Kpg
Lanchang |
23 Mar
1989 |
|
2. |
Serian |
7 Jan 1967 |
Gunung Jagoi
(dissolved) |
23 Mar 1989
(dissolved) |
|
3. |
Lundu |
24 Jul
1967 |
Ngironas
(dissolved) |
23 Mar 1989
(dissolved) |
|
4. |
Kuching
Urban |
31 Mar
1974 |
Siniawan
(dissolved) |
23 Mar 1989
(dissolved) |
|
5. |
Women |
8 Apr 1976 |
Serumbu
(dissolved) |
28 Feb 1990
(dissolved) |
|
6. |
Kuching
Tengah |
8 Aug 1976 |
Kapit |
8 Mar 1990 |
|
7. |
Siburan |
16 Aug
1976 |
Kpg Quop |
30 Jun
1990 |
|
8. |
Serapi |
May 1977 |
Kpg Bratan |
31 Dec
1994 |
|
9. |
Miri |
8 Jul 1977 |
Bunuk
(dissolved) |
12 Oct 1995
(dissolved) |
|
10. |
Sri Aman |
25 Mar
1978 |
Bratak
Dorod Sauh |
3 Nov 1998 |
|
11. |
Penrissen |
6 Nov 1978 |
Gunung Layar
(dissolved) |
Nov 1998
(dissolved) |
|
12. |
Padawan |
16 Mar
1979 |
Women's
Unit - Serian Branch |
14 Apr 1999 |
|
13. |
Bintulu |
23 Mar
1983 |
|
|
|
14. |
Sibu |
20 Aug
1985 |
|
|
|
15. |
Limbang |
8 Mar 1990 |
|
|
|
16. |
Sarikei |
30 Jun 1990 |
|
|
| 
