By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Feb 15: Malays from Peninsular Malaysia and other states in Malaysia will not be considered as Sarawak natives, assures Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Law, MA63, State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali.
She said the new definition of Sarawak natives, though broadened through the amendment of the Interpretation Ordinance, 2005 [Cap. 61], is clearly confined to only indigenous races of Sarawak.
“There’s no issue to whether this new definition inadvertently includes Malays from West Malaysia. The definition of native is clearly confined to indigenous in Sarawak.
“There should be no issue of inclusion of Malay from Peninsular Malaysia or from any other places in the country.
“This is very clear in our definition,” she said while winding up the second reading of the Interpretation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today.
Sharifah Hasidah was responding to Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen, who earlier in his debate, sought clarification whether Malays from Peninsular Malaysia would be considered natives too as Malay is one of the 31 indigenous races listed in the Schedule of the Interpretation Ordinance.
He pointed out that Malays, unlike the other indigenous races of Sarawak, are found in Peninsular Malaysia as well.
Meanwhile, the Interpretation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 has been passed in DUN today, which means a child from a mixed marriage may be considered as a native even if only one of their parents is a native.
The previous practice required both parents of mixed marriages to be a native of Sarawak.
The new definition, however, is subjected to additional conditions and requirements by the Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri (MMKN) to avoid exploitations and abuse of the native status. — DayakDaily
