By Shikin Louis
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21: Children with one Sarawak native parent will automatically be granted native status, while the requirement to apply is only for statistical purposes.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg was commenting on the application for recognition as natives from Nov 1, 2023, after the passing of the Interpretation (Amendment) Ordinance 2022.
“It’s not about applying (for native status). You just fill in the application form, and the form will go to our data. We just want to keep track of the number of married persons or non-native parents with native children.
“If we do not do this, there is no data. Thus, the application is just for us to have a record as statistics is very important for us to plan (for Sarawak’s development),” he said during a townhall session at Lan Berambeh Anak Sarawak 2023 held at Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) Kuala Lumpur here today.
He was responding to a student from Mukah who had asked about the status of the existing long-pending applications by the applicants following the announcement on the opening of applications for native status effective Nov 1, 2023. — DayakDaily
