Written by a Dayak person.
Political decisions, unlike other decisions, almost all, are circumstantial. But that is enough to provide clues.
Perhaps I just write something now since I am already awake and can't sleep again.
Abdul Rahman bin Ya’kub, in his lifetime, never denied the allegations that he ordered the destruction of those books. Being the CM from 1970 to 1981, who decided the closure of the Borneo Literature Bureau (BLB) in the 70's, if not the CM, and replaced the same with just a local Branch of the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DPP)?
DBP is a Malaya based Government Agency that is tasked with the promotion and development of Bahasa Melayu and not other languages? DBP has no responsibility in promoting or developing other languages except Bahasa Melayu and this is in contrast with the responsibility of the BLB that had been actively developing local literature including Iban literature and language at the material time.
One morning sometime in 2002 I was sitting with the late Anthony Belon at The late Anthony Belon remembered this was an unforgettable event while was sitting down with friends at the same Joo Seng Cafe when they saw the burning of all the books published in the Iban and English languages. Joo Seng Cafe located at the junction of Batu Lintang/Green Road and Abang Haji Openg/Rock Road, which is just opposite the former BLB Building (turned into the State Printing Department and later till now changed into Percetakan Nasional Malaysia Berhad/PNMB).
Those written in Malays were preserved. The late Anthony Belon and several of his friends rushed to the scene and tried saving the remaining to be burned Iban books but were stopped by a team of policemen who stood guarded at the scene at the material time. In shock, the late Anthony Belon asked why they were disallowed to save and keep those Iban books. The policemen told them it was the order from the highest authority of the State. So they saved none. This has been boggling the minds of Dayak adults ever since.
Five pertinent questions arising from the above events. The burning is a fact, so no issue on that point
(1) Whose decision to close the BLB and replace the same with a local Branch of DBP? The State Authority could allow the Malayan based DBP to open a Branch in Sarawak, but why dissolved BLB and replaced the same with DBP?
(2) Who was the highest authority of the State at the material time? Can a Government Agency (BLB) be closed down or dissolved without the decision of the State Cabinet? Who chaired the Cabinet meeting if not the CM? Alternatively, if it was made without the approval of the cabinet, then whose single decision that was so powerful and authoritative that must be acted upon?
(3) Why dissolved BLB and replaced the same with DBP that has a singular mission, vision and role, namely developing and promoting Bahasa Melayu?
(4) Why was a team of policemen ordered to stand guarded at the scene if it was just a simple destruction of those collections?
(5) Why was no one or any passer by members of the public allowed to save even a copy of those literary collections and policemen were given strict instructions to prevent any attempt to save those collections? Copy and paste
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