By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 12: Sape songstress Alena Murang is now officially recognised as a native of Sarawak after receiving her native certificate from the Kuching District Office yesterday.
Announcing this on her social media accounts yesterday (June 11), she expressed gratitude to the native elders who fought for decades to change the law, resulting in the Interpretation (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 being tabled and eventually passed in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) on Feb 15, 2022.
Following that, the Sarawak government enforced the Ordinance to determine the native status of any eligible person, effective Nov 1, 2023.
Alena was born to a Kelabit father, former deputy Sarawak secretary Datu Ose Murang, and English-Italian mother Valerie Mashman.
She emphasised that this demonstrated that change is possible through persistence, community, collaboration and truth, even though it may take a long time.
“It’s our birth right to be native, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Whether you register or not, no one can change your blood.
“The native registration in Sarawak is important for us (mixed Sarawakians with one native parent) to inherit ancestral land and to safeguard it, and for native customary rights,” she said.
Alena noted that Sarawak, Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia each have different definitions for ‘Bumiputera’ and ‘native’ as stated in the Federal Constitution.
Before the amendment of the law, Sarawakians were only granted native status if both their parents are natives of Sarawak.
“For those with one native parent and one non-native Sarawakian parent, those kids (like me), did not have native status. This meant that we would not be able to inherit native land,” she added.
It is worth to point out that Alena first raised this issue to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at “Sunday Morning with CM: Dialogue Session with Young Entrepreneurs” organised by DayakDaily and Pewarta (Pertubuhan Wartawan Bebas Kuching) at a local hotel on Sept 27, 2020.
She argued it was “discriminatory and unfair” that Sarawakians with a native parent had to apply with the Native Court to be recognised as a native when it should be their birth right and granted automatically.
Abang Johari then gave assurance that the Sarawak government would look into amending the relevant laws to allow children of mixed marriages, especially those involving natives, to assume native status automatically, noting that inter-marriage has always been a way of life in Sarawak.
Today, Alena urged Sarawakians with mixed parentage, with one native parent and one non-native parent, to register if they have not done so.
“Head to any District Office in Sarawak to get it done. In Kuching it’s Level 6, Majma Mall.” — DayakDaily
