SIBU: AN old Iban folklore tells of a young woman who found a shiny gold bracelet by the roadside while on her way home. The sparkling piece of jewellery had intricately-designed carvings.
The woman picked up the bracelet to admire it. She later put it back where she found it and continued her journey home. Little did she know, the gold bracelet belonged to an antu remaung (a tiger spirit), who put it there as a taju, or bait, to trap passers-by.
That night, the antu remaung struck, and although the woman escaped the ordeal, she was badly hurt by the tiger spirit’s deep scratch. This tale was used by the elderly to discourage children from taking things that do not belong to them and to not fall prey to the lure of the unfamiliar.
It was also the same advice given by Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas to Dayak smallholders at an event in Kanowit, near here, on Thursday.
Giving a word of caution, he said it was disheartening to know that some had fallen for the taju laid by the opposition, which promised them the moon and stars.
“The Ibans believe that taju will cause trouble. Once you touch it, it can cost you your life,” said Uggah.
The opposition, in attempts to make inroads, had used all sorts of subterfuge, even making fictitious claims. They are also riding on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as a reason to vote against Barisan Nasional (BN).
DAP, in particular, said it expects to defeat BN in at least 22 seats in the state polls because of perceived public anger against the implementation of the GST.
PKR’s manifesto, meanwhile, included a pledge to reduce the cost of living by abolishing the tax system.
A political analyst did not feel that the GST issue would strongly affect BN’s support in rural areas.
The opposition do not realise that it is more important to provide basic facilities to the rural folk in the Land of the Hornbills.
“Basic needs are more important than the issue of GST, so BN has the upper hand,” said Associate Professor Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani.
It also does not help that the Pakatan Harapan parties are squabbling over seat allocations. At this point, both DAP and PKR have nothing nice to say about each other.
“In this case, Team Adenan’s machinery, with help from the federal machinery, is too strong for the divided opposition to compete against,” added Azizuddin.
A few days ago, Lun Bawang villagers in picturesque Ba’kelalan, a six-hour journey from Lawas, had expressed disappointment over the lack of progress in the constituency held by Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian.
For the community in the highlands, they yearn for development, and since Baru wrested the seat in 2011, he has not lived up to their expectations. The opposition, they say, have failed to provide amenities like electricity, clean water supply and good roads.
Now, the villagers want change, one that they are sure can guarantee them a better life for their families and improve their livelihood.
We can all learn a thing or two from the old Iban tale and from Ba’kelalan — that while the bait at the end of the fishing line might be enticing, we have to be wary of falling for the opposition’s promises, hook, line and sinker.
After all, everything that glitters is not gold.