PTPTN is “ignorant” and “insensitive” to hold a public consultation session in Sarawak on the eve of the major Gawai Dayak festival, said a PKR assemblyman.

The session, to discuss the fund’s financial woes, is scheduled to be held at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak on Friday.

Batu Lintang rep See Chee How said the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) is “so obviously insensitive to Dayaks”, who will celebrate the festival, marking the end of their rice harvest, on Saturday.

Dayaks make up about 53% of the state’s population of two million. The annual Gawai Dayak festival sees thousands from the community returning to their longhouses.

“(PTPTN is) being insensitive to all Sarawakians because this important occasion is celebrated by all in the state, irrespective of race, religion or social background,” said See.

He said the fund does not understand Sarawak’s geography and the challenges faced by rural folk if they are expected to attend the session and return in time for the festival.

“Sarawak is a vast state. We face many travel challenges,” he said, pointing to the long trips made even more arduous by the ongoing construction of the Pan Borneo Highway and the risks posed by overloaded boats that ply fast-flowing tributaries.

He said those who live outside Kuching and are interested in attending the session will face difficulties travelling during the festive period.

“It can also be very costly, and it certainly won’t be easy for outstation would-be participants to make travel arrangements to attend this important consultation session.”

See said he hopes PTPTN will reschedule the session after the Gawai Dayak and Adilfitri festive periods to ensure “better and more meaningful” participation.

Dayak lawyer Francis Teron, too, slammed the fund’s ignorance, saying PTPTN’s move to schedule the meeting on Friday reinforces his belief that he is “an unwanted Malaysian”.

“In all the years since I realised that I am an unwanted Malaysian, I’ve noticed that (people in the peninsula) always schedule department meetings and seminars, or make travel arrangements, on the eve or the third day of celebrations.

“These all appear to show that my kind are not wanted as part of Malaysia, and deserve a break to enjoy our celebrations.”

Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik has come under fire for failing to mention the Gawai Dayak and Sabah’s Ka’amatan festivals in a school holiday greeting video uploaded onto Facebook on Thursday.

Maszlee, who only extended Aidilfitri greetings, was slammed by Sarawak PAS for “hurting the feelings of Sabah and Sarawak teachers and students”.

“There is nothing wrong with his video post, except that he fails to mention the Ka’amatan and Gawai Dayak celebrations,” said the Islamist party’s Bintulu chief, Zharudin Narudin.

“This may be insignificant (to peninsula folk), but to us in Borneo, it is unacceptable. It definitely hurts.”

Zharudin said the Ka’amatan festival, to be celebrated on Thursday and Friday, and Gawai Dayak, from Saturday to Monday, should not have escaped the minister’s notice, as “after all, they will be celebrated earlier than Aidilfitri this year”.

“As a federal minister, Maszlee should be more aware of the existence of Sabah and Sarawak’s ethnic groups.

“His video manifests ignorance of East Malaysia’s communities.” – May 27, 2019.