What ‘cawat’? “Nadai gi kami ngena cawat deh!”
Monday, July 27th, 2009 996 viewsWhat is the fuss over the ‘cawat’ remark by Hadi Awang?
Much have been said about the ‘cawat’ (loincloth) remark. It’s getting really annoying reading the recycled, repeated craps in the paper nowadays. Our papers especially love to quote some stupid politicians moronic comments, I wonder if that helps them selling the papers. It’s downright insulting to read the spins by these idiots and with the rubbish journalism we have in Malaysia, it’s hard to find alternative or opposing views in our mainstream medias anymore. Everyone is parroting the same shits, treating us like dumbs.
First thing, nowadays you can’t see any Dayak wearing cawat (loincloth) anymore except perhaps on ceremonial or festive occasions. Not forgetting when posing for Tourism Malaysia posters, which is somehow fine and not insulting for the Dayaks to be portrayed that way, I wonder.
Long long time ago, our ancestors were wandering around naked, wearing nothing. Then somehow they found it embarassing not to cover their jewels so they scavenged anything they could think of to cover those parts. It evolved from wearing leaves, then to loincloth and now we can have brief or boxer and jeans, shorts, khakis over to double cover, triple cover our precious-yet-embarassing-to-be-let-free-for-view parts.
Yes, Dayak tribes did wear cawats back then (probably my earliest ancestors back then did as well) and that was so fashionable at that time, so there’s nothing to be ashamed of the fact, even today. No thanks to idiots from Barisan Nasional, the so called Dayak-fighters like Alfred Jabu ak Numpang and James Jemut Masing who jumped on this issue and fanned it to stir emotional angst among the Dayaks.
They interpreted the loincloth remark literally, knowing it would cause discontent among Sarawakians especially the Dayaks. They are hoping all Sarawakians would be so dumb and illiterate to take the meaning literally.
Listen to James Masing -
Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Dr James Masing said Hadi’s comments suggested that the Batang Ai voters, the majority of whom are Dayaks, were uncivilised.
Now Alfred Jabu -
Irked by Hadi’s comments which was made in the run-up to the Manek Urai by-election which was won by PAS, Jabu said anyone who had offended any community should apologise if he was a sensible person.
“I have covered Lubok Antu very extensively, well before the by-election, during and after it and under normal circumstances, you don’t see anyone wearng ‘cawat’, except during traditional dances when traditional costumes are displayed,” he said, adding it had been demonstrated that Barisan was very strong in Sarawak.
Trust James Jemut Masing and Alfred Jabu ak Numpang to spin the loincloth remark to their own benefits. James Masing is only partially correct in his statement. Yes Hadi’s comments suggest the Batang Ai voters, the majority of whom are Dayaks were uncivilised, but it was a reference to the ‘uncivilised, backward mentality’ of Dayak voters for keep voting the government that neglects them all this years.
In the case of Batang Ai, under the guise of ‘political development’, BN offered instant goodies for the voters and they were easily appeased and contented with such ‘political bribery’. Little that they remember, ALL governments exist for the purpose of assisting ALL their citizens and there is nothing to be thankful or grateful for what’s rightfully belong to them. I wrote something along this line before – Should we be thankful for what’s rightfully ours?
BN even had the audacity to declare East Malaysia states as its ‘fixed deposit’, clearly insulting and at the expense of ignoramus East Malaysian voters when it comes to exercising their votes wisely.
Najib Wants Sabah To Remain BN’s ‘Fixed Deposit’
KOTA KINABALU, May 4 (Bernama) — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wants Sabah to remain as the ‘fixed deposit’ for the Barisan Nasional (BN).
He said that this was to ensure the BN would continue to be at the helm of the country’s administration.
As if it is something to be proud of, we have an idiot in the name of Abang Johari quickly making a bold statement declared that “Sarawak also BN’s fixed deposit”. WTF? Is this worth fighting for? Something to be jealous of when Najib ‘praised’ Sabah? This is an insult! Not praise and glory, you blinking idiot!
So, why nobody kick a fuss when this guy daringly made a statement insinuating the votes of Sarawakians are taken for granted? Where were you Alfred Jabu? James Masing? Obviously, BN all this while treat Sarawakian voters as idiots. Their votes worth shit and are easily bought with instant goodies? Isn’t this affirming the ‘cawat’ mentality among the voters in Sarawak?
I would like to share some very interesting and valid points made by Sarawak Headhunter in his post Why Are Some Dayaks Getting Their Cawats In A Twist?
What line did Hadi cross? Was he telling a lie? Did he say it to insult anyone? Is the truth insulting? If any Dayaks really felt insulted, perhaps they should mend the error of their ways and stop supporting oppression of their own people by Taib and his regime.
Did Hadi really want to make the people of Lubok Antu and the Dayaks as a whole look uncivilised? Was that his point? Again, why should anyone feel sensitive above Hadi’s remarks unless they were true?
All sadly but typically missing the point, perhaps purposely. Why should the opposition deliberately want to hurt the feelings of the very people whose support they need?
Everyone, including Hadi, knows very well that the Dayaks no longer “run around” in cawats. But that doesn’t mean that the Dayaks have yet managed to outgrow their ‘cawat’ mentality, just like many Malays (read “UMNO Malays”) have still not managed to outgrow their feudal mentality.
Obviously Hadi knows that the people don’t literally wear cawats any more. Anyway, don’t Dayaks wearing cawats still appear in official BN government tourist brouchures and cultural performances?
What Hadi meant, Sarawak Headhunter thinks, is the cawat or backward mentality of the Dayaks, who in spite of being the victims of Taib’s regime, still supported their oppressors and victimizers.
Dayaks are marginalised because of their ignorance of Taib’s regime’s manipulation and oppression of their own people and other Sarawakians, or if they are not ignorant of this, then because of their own stupidity.
Read more of his post here.
Yes, Hadi was right about Sarawakians still wearing ‘cawat‘ on their heads covering their eyes and ears. Let go of this invisible ‘cawat’ and start doing the right thing. Be critical and not submissive. Be skeptical when necessary.
Being critical means you care about our nation and want to improve things and correct what you think is wrong and it doesn’t necessary means anti-establisment. Being sceptical means you are not naive and do not accept everything you read or hear.
That said, if the opposition wants to woo the voters in East Malaysia especially in Sarawak, it needs to do more research to understand the voters mentality, especially why they are still trapped in this ‘cawat’ mentality. Making such remarks without finding solutions to address the issue do no good to all and already many Sarawakians find West Malaysian politicians are ridiculously ignorant about this part of the world. Not mentioning some arrogant and patronising statements.
Remember, for any side to form a federal government in Malaysia, winning some of the minimum 25% of the seats allocated to East Malaysia states is paramount, so buck up and get wise.
ps: “Nadai gi kami ngena cawat deh!” – We are wearing loincloths no more!
pss: Seriously, if the Dayaks feel insulted by this ‘cawat’ remark, they should sue Tourism Ministry for using posters of ‘cawat‘ wearing dude’ to promote Sarawak. Heck, if I am a horny, dumb blonde tourist and I want to make a trip to Sarawak just to meet some good looking ‘cawat’ wearing dudes because of the posters, how? What? I didn’t see any disclaimer saying ”The product images are for illustration purposes only” so it must be real!
