PENAMPANG: Indigenous communities must be recognised as strategic partners in nation-building rather than mere beneficiaries of development, said Borneo Dayak Forum president Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan.
Officiating the 2026 Sabah World Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration (Shoas) at the KDCA Hongkod Koisaan (Unity Centre) here on Saturday, Jeffrey said native groups are seeking genuine partnership from governments rather than charity.
He stressed that true progress requires protecting customary land, culture, and languages while extending infrastructure and basic services to remote rural areas.
Highlighting economic involvement, he said Indigenous peoples must act as owners and partners when development affects their forests, biodiversity, and traditional knowledge.
Jeffrey noted that while artificial intelligence is transforming modern society, technological advancement must be guided by ethics and ancestral wisdom to prevent the exploitation of cultural identity.
He urged Indigenous communities across Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan, and Brunei to strengthen regional solidarity to defend their common rights without challenging national sovereignty.
He also called on women and youth to lead their communities into the future by embracing science and technology while retaining their cultural heritage.
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