Tattoo or Not?

Malaysian youths, mainly Dayak youths, especially Iban who are having tatoos anywhere visible in their bodies will definitely be refused employment in the Malaysian Civil Service especially in the Police or the Army. This "unwritten code" has been in practice for sometime and is a major hinderance for the youths wanting to join the Police or the Army in Malaysia.

Parents are frustrated that their children, just because they have tatoos somewhere in their bodies are being outrightly rejected by recruiting officers whilst undergoing job interviews.

This policy is too harsh. Has there been official directive by the Government regarding this policy? Herein lies a major irony. During the Emergencies and also the Communists threat, Dayaks who wanted to join the Forces or The police must show that they had tatoos all over their bodies supposedly to indicate courage, honour,brotherhood and sacrifices. Tatoo was then a pre-requisite! Those days, only the brave dared to venture and in addition ,were paid in pittance. Presently, it is the opposite!

There has been numerous complaints echoed by job seekers that they have been refused employment just because they have the signature tatoo embedded in the skin. Yes, it's quite too much because tatoo is Iban culture, it would be fair to ban just for a modern tattoo and optional for traditional ones?

But, who are to blame? The government? The "samseng"? Or maybe our very own iban men who've tattoo whole body but do nothing other than loafing around the football court having "langkau" after sport?

Two Head are better than one; Too many cooks may spoil the broth.

Two people working together can solve a problem quicker and better than a person working alone. Too many people trying to take care of something can ruin it. When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.

The best time for these two Dayak-based parties (though multiracial) to merge into one entity is now. Both William Mawan and Dr James Masing should bury all past suspicions, if any, and all unsavoury remarks/actions purportedly initiated by SPDP during PRS crises and thereafter, SPDP's alledged support to Gabriel Adit against PRS's Alexander Vincent in the last Sarawak State Election should be thrown into the backburner.

William is already into the mending ties mode. He said that he is even willing to step aside to give way for a new President of the merged Party. Additionally, SPDP is gearing to assist PRS to recapture Ngemah from Adit. The SPDP President said that actions should be initiated rather than rhetorics to demonstrate genuineness and sincerity.

As for PRS, it is now a clearly settled Party, after the bitter battle between the feuding factions that dragged up to nearly two years.

More importantly, the party seemed to carry on without any "tangibles" towkays behind. The Dayak-based Party, is seen for the first time, not obligated or controlled by defacto wealthy individual or family with self interests. In reality, this cannot be said in the case of SPDP. This is where the big contention is.

PRS is postponing its TDC, slated for 3rd December this year, to see how SPDP's TGA is unfolding. SPDP's TGA is scheduled to be held on the 20th Nov this year. Circles in PRS is keen to watch who will be the new officebearers. Will the "defacto" financer be in a top flight or not? Already, an individual there is holding an unprecedented 3 posts simultaneously.

PRS is wary of this situation. They do not want scenarios repetitive of the SNAP, PBDS days, allowing outside financiers to control the parties and, their own bitter experiences just a fewmonths ago. Hence, this is the major consideration for PRS to woo and marry SPDP. PRS is short of telling SPDP " get rid of your defacto leader" and we will merge!