KUCHING: The Interpretation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 empowers the Cabinet to aid other native races which are not included in the indigenous races listed in Article 161A (7).
In accordance to this, Datuk Gerawat Gala (GPS-Mulu) stated that before the amendment in the said Article, there were 20 indigenous races listed as natives of Sarawak and under Article 161A (6) it stated that only a person of mixed blood derived exclusively from those natives (listed) can become a native.
“This has caused a lot of unhappiness among the parents and children where only one of the parents is a native.
“Hence, amending the Bill is very significant for the State as it transfers the constitutional authority to determine who are the natives of Sarawak from parliament to our state.
“This is indeed part of the evolution of power to our state which is part of its effort to protect and pursue our state economy,” he said when debating in support of the Bill during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today.
Noting that the amendment is to add 12 more native races to the list of native races initially written, he said that this amendment is also to help recognise children of mixed marriages as natives of Sarawak.
“However, (the recognition) is subject to the conditions and requirements imposed by the Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri to prevent any abuse of this amended provision.
“The current procedure for determining the native status by the application may still apply with some necessary modification. This is to make the process more proficient and less time consuming,” he added.
Nonetheless, Gerawat further disclosed that the amendment is welcome by the children of mixed marriages who have felt deprived of their native inheritance.
“With the proposed amendment, it will provide an avenue for children of mixed marriages to be recognised as native of Sarawak and Sabah.
“It is a necessity to define who are the natives of Sabah and Sarawak because the provision of Article 153 of the Federal Constitution confers special privileges on native of Sarawak and Sabah,” he explained.
Meanwhile, answering the debate by Chong Chieng Jen (PH-Padungan) on wishing to include third generation of Chinese and Indian as native of Sarawak, Gerawat suggested Chong to table an Article of 153 of the Federal Constitution.
“If he succeeds in doing that, then we might talk about what he is suggesting here,” he mentioned.
Echoing the Mulu Assembyman, Dennis Ngau (GPS-Telang Usan) expressed his full support to the amendment Bill.
“I would like to thank you on behalf of Orang Ulu on the amendment that included three of indigenous Sarawak namely, Sa’ban, Lakiput, and Berawan in the new state list.
“For the information of the August House members, the Orang Ulu community (including Sa’ban, Lakiput, and Berawan) are grouped under the umbrella body, Federation of Orang Ulu Associations of Sarawak Malaysia (Forum).
“(Being added to the state list) will definitely put to rest some uncertainty among our people,” he said while expressing his appreciation to the state and federal government for the amendment.
