Borneo indigenous communities should be strategic partners in nation-building
PENAMPANG: Borneo’s indigenous communities should not merely be treated as development beneficiaries but as strategic partners in nation-building, said Bulawan Sigah Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
Borneo's indigenous communities should be recognized as strategic partners in nation-building, according to Bulawan Sigah Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, the president of the Borneo Dayak Forum (BDF). He emphasized the importance of protecting customary land, culture, and language, as indigenous communities possess traditional knowledge that could be invaluable in the face of modern development.
Kitingan called for a balance between artificial intelligence and ancestral wisdom, asserting that human intelligence, developed over thousands of years, could guide the way forward. The BDF president also stressed the need for unity and solidarity among indigenous communities, as Borneo is divided by political boundaries but lacks geographical borders.
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