KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Women Wing has expressed support for the state government’s efforts to push for natives in Sarawak to be properly recognised under the Federal Constitution.
On Tuesday, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali said the definition of ‘natives’ under the supreme law must be updated.
She said the definition of natives of Sarawak in the Federal Constitution had always been a concern as the current definition does not accurately reflect the numerous different races of the natives in the state.
“Often, apart from the Malay, Chinese, and Dayak, the rest of the natives would be conveniently categorised as ‘others’ or ‘lain-lain’,” she said.
PRS Women deputy chief Cr Rosaline Neging said it was sensible for the category of ‘others’ to be abolished, especially with the new concept of ‘Keluarga Malaysia’ introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
“To treat our Malaysians as ‘other races’ when we know their roots and code is considered immoral.
“Categorising them as ‘other races’ indicates them as foreigners, unimportant, or second class, whereas we and the whole world know that Malaysia is a multiracial country comprising of different ethnic groups and races,” she said.
She said knowing the various ethnic groups and races was crucial, noting that many citizens in West Malaysia were unaware of the existence of these ‘other races’ in Sabah and Sarawak.
“Thus, the Education Ministry must make sure such knowledge is taught and included in the syllabus of all schools in the country. For example, we have the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu,” she said.
Rosaline also said that it was proper for the Federal Constitution to be revisited, adding that it should not be stagnant.
PRS Women secretary Cr Misiah Abdullah noted that the terms ‘Dayak’ and ‘Orang Ulu’ were often difficult to understand especially for people outside Sarawak.
“The Dayak, which make up 1.25 million of Sarawak’s population consists of various ethnicities such as Iban, Bidayuh, and Orang Ulu.
“The Orang Ulu is also a large category which refers to more than 20 other minority ethnicities such as Kenyah, Kayan, Kelabit, Lahanan, Kejaman, and Ukit,” she explained.
She said categorising the Dayak sub-groups as ‘others’ was likening them to foreigners or immigrants who were only stopping by in Sarawak.
“The Sarawak society has its own identity, uniqueness and culture and should not be seen as ‘others’. Sarawakians are multi-ethnic with their own culture and heritage which must be preserved, valued and respected,” she said.
As such, Misiah stressed that due recognition must be given to the Dayak people in Sarawak by not considering their ethnic groups as ‘others’, adding that such categorisation was unfair as if the Dayak ethnicities did not have the same status as other races in Malaysia.
“The details of the ethnic groups in Sarawak must be clearly stated to facilitate identification as each ethnic group is proud of their respective identities,” she said.
Meanwhile, PRS Women exco member Cr Donna Petrus said it was about time to push for the recognition of the rest of the natives in Sarawak and to void the use of the ‘others’ category for them.
“To implement this, representatives from all the natives concerned must be taken into consideration to name their races which must be agreed upon by them.
“With the assistance of the rightful body such as Majlis Adat Istiadat, I hope all natives will be accounted for and no one will be left out,” she said.
She said such recognition would better demonstrate the existence and contributions of natives as part of Sarawak.
“As part of Sarawak, they also contribute to the state in terms of economy, education, and development. They are no less as important as other main races in Sarawak such as the Malay, Chinese, and Dayak,” she said.
PRS Women Publicity head Jenny Mansang said the issue must be rectified as the category of ‘others’ would allude that these native ethnicities were unimportant.
“It is unfair to be categorised as ‘others’ – we are also Malaysians,” she said.
She also called for official government forms to be altered to not include the term ‘others’ with regard to race.
