Penampang: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said the natives have the right to protect their rights when they are being oppressed or their rights encroached.However, as natives, he said they are also bound by customs and mannerism in their conversation, behaviour and action that display high civility of the native community.
Hence, he said they should not let themselves be influenced with cultures from communities outside the country.
"These outside communities are willing to do anything that would only tarnish the image of natives," he said, at the World's Indigenous Peoples Celebration (PHOAS) at the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) Hongkod Koisaan.
He said if they have any proposal, grouse or dissatisfaction, they could use the correct channels to forward it to the relevant authorities.
"I can give my assurance that the Government is aware and concerned and open to listen to problems faced by the people that involves the natives," he said in a speech read by KDCA Deputy President, Datuk Richard Bainon.
Pairin, who is also Huguan Siou (paramount leader) said the natives are relevant to the communal system in the country including in the context of development. It is for this reason that the PHOAS is celebrated every year.
He said they should be proud to be called natives.
If in the past, natives are considered a backward and ignorant race, he said, they have proven they are just as capable as other races too.
However, he said the natives' progress is not only in terms of material gains but also other aspects in building a better life.
On close analysis, the Infrastructure Development Minister said natives not only possess a lot of knowledge but also management system on community living, land and resources including technologies that could be emulated.
"This is because traditionally the natives' lives are based on symbiosis of the environment," he said.
Natives, he said, have the perception or cosmology that are based on sustainable systems and proven very important in any development, management and environmental conservation models.
He suggested that the traditional management of resources by the natives is used and expanded in resource management of a country to overcome the weather crisis.
Among it is the tagal (traditional preservation and conservation of estuary resources) system to protect the river eco-system and ecology that have been used since time immemorial and also has been acknowledged and applied by the Fishery Department.
Pairin said there are other knowledge, skills and technology of the natives that could be used and applied.
But most importantly, whatever the natives posses, it should contribute towards the wellbeing of all and used as a blueprint in the administration and development of the State and nation.
The natives he said give priority to harmony with the natural environment in their lives including harmony in a society and spiritual values.
"This is because without harmony, not only the community would be in chaos but the country would also disintegrate," he said.
To this end, he urge the natives including their families not to allow themselves be used by irresponsible parties who only raise and twist certain issues for their private agenda.
He said they should think carefully of the development programmes planned and implemented by the Government including those that involve the native communities and not based on emotion fanned by certain parties.
Also present were organising chairman, Adrian Lasimbang, President of World Native Network (JOAS), Thomas Jalong Apoi, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), Tan Sri Hasmi Agam, President of Pacos Trust Sabah, Prof Dr Felix Tongkul.
