KUCHING: The Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) has expanded from 21 to 24 branches since its previous Triennial General Assembly (TGA) in 2023, with Tiang Bekap expected to become its 25th branch next term.
Its president Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik said the latest additions are Muara Tuang, Tebedu and Batang Kedup branches.
He added that Tiang Bekap, which attended this year’s assembly as observers, is expected to become the association’s 25th confirmed branch by the next TGA.
“In the next 12th TGA, we will probably see 25 confirmed branches coming over,” he said during the welcoming dinner held in conjunction with the 11th DBNA TGA at the DBNA Headquarters Multipurpose Hall on Friday night (May 8).
Ik Pahon said the expansion reflects growing participation and support from the Bidayuh community throughout the state.
According to him, branch-level meetings conducted from February to March this year were successfully carried out.
He said the meetings also revealed an encouraging leadership transition within the association, with more younger members stepping forward to take up committee positions alongside senior leaders.
“We noticed a very encouraging shift in the committee line-up, with a mixed composition of senior and younger generations willing to take up committee positions and community service,” he said.
Ik Pahon said the development reflects positively on the association’s continuity and future leadership succession.
“People like us, our time has probably come to give way to the younger group,” he said.
He added that DBNA remains committed to ensuring the Bidayuh community continues participating meaningfully in Sarawak’s development agenda under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
Ik Pahon also highlighted several current social challenges affecting communities, including online gambling, illegal money lending activities, substance abuse and school dropouts.
“These are current issues not only affecting our community but many other communities as well. We must continue playing our role meaningfully,” he said.
Reflecting on the association’s history, Ik Pahon said DBNA leaders had safeguarded its 2.45-acre headquarters land in Kuching despite opportunities to sell it over the years.
“If we had sold this land, we could have become millionaires. But our leaders said no, we must have a Bidayuh identity in the city of Kuching,” he said.
Established in 1955, DBNA was formed to unite and protect the various Bidayuh sub-ethnic and regional groupings across Sarawak.
