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MIRI – Community groups, business associations and political bodies representing the Chinese and Indian communities in Sarawak should fight to ensure every Chinese and Indian person born in the state is accorded the official status of “Sarawak Native”.
Former Miri mayor Datuk Lawrence Lai told The Vibes that by right, everyone born on Sarawak soil should be classified as “Anak Sarawak”.
The senior lawyer and political analyst added that the state assembly should have raised this issue for discussion in its recently concluded three-day session.
“This topic of Sarawak-born Chinese and Indians deserving to be accorded status as Sarawak natives has great merit. It should have been raised and debated among the state assembly representatives.
“As it is now, the suggestion that all Chinese and Indian persons born in Sarawak should be categorised as Sarawak natives has been brought up outside the state assembly by Sarawak DAP, Parti Sarawak Bersatu, and Sarawak PKR,” said Lai.
He observed that during the meeting, Chong Chien Jen (Padungan-DAP) said he tried to raise a motion to debate the issue, but it was rejected by the speaker.
Lai said it was a pity the assembly did not discuss the matter, as there are hundreds of thousands of third-generation Chinese and Indian Sarawakians today.
“They deserve to enjoy special land rights accorded to Sarawak natives, as well as the special discounts for properties and houses, as well as education rights and so on (given to the natives).
“The Gabungan Parti Sarawak state government should no longer alienate Chinese and Indians born in Sarawak from such special rights for Sarawak natives,” stressed Lai.
Opposition party leaders had shared similar sentiments in calling for Sarawak-born residents of Chinese and Indian backgrounds to be recognised as natives.
Miri MP Dr Michael Teo added his two cents, telling The Vibes that a bill should have been tabled for discussion on the matter.
The opposition lawmaker and state PKR vice-chairman pointed out that the assembly had recently passed a bill recognising children from mixed-marriages between Sarawakian natives and non-natives such as Chinese and Indians as Sarawak natives.
“The state assembly should immediately draft a bill to also categorise Sarawak-born Chinese and Indians as Sarawak natives too.
“Many of the Chinese and Indians in Sarawak were born here in this state. They, too, are natives of this state from a legal perspective.
“They deserve to be accorded the rights of natives in Sarawak, such as entitlement to five percent discount for property purchase,” he said.
Similarly, PSB’s Batu Lintang Assemblyman See Chee How, said his party also wants to see individuals from Chinese and Indian families born in Sarawak be given native status.
Sharing Lai’s view, See in a statement said that by “natural definition”, all those born in Sarawak are its natives, and that Kuching must grant them the same privilege.
The state assembly earlier this week approved new amendments to the state constitution to state that children from mixed-marriages involving natives in Sarawak are now categorised as natives, following the passing of the bill in the state assembly. – The Vibes, February 18, 2022
