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By Karen Bong
KUCHING, July 7: Sarawak human rights activist Peter John Jaban was summoned by the police for questioning today regarding his statement that questioned the unfairness in the system, which had allowed certain foreign individuals to expedite their Sarawak citizenship and even acquire native status and ownership of native lands.
Met at the Simpang Tiga police station, Peter John stressed that such actions by a few should not be allowed or tolerated when there are many genuine natives still awaiting their citizenship documentation and being compelled to apply for native status, despite having one or both parents who are natives.
“Sarawak civil servants cannot bow to the wealthy and privilege or bend the rules to accommodate people in power, while genuine natives are ignored or told to come back later.
“I have personally seen many examples in government offices where rural people being pushed aside or simply placed at the bottom of the pile, waiting years (to resolve their citizenship status), while their children go without education or healthcare and worst still they are not entitled to cast their votes,” he told reporters.
Furthermore, Peter John pointed out that applications for native status involve stringent requirements, including knowledge of the culture and language and a longstanding connection to a community, which could take up to 20 years.
“Even though the Sarawak government has passed the law recognising children from mixed marriage as natives, even if only one of the parents is a native, the law has not been seriously enforced. This caused them to face problems with native land inheritance.
“If certain foreign individuals with Sarawak citizenship are allowed to inherit or obtain native lands, it would undermine the rule of law and the rights of native Sarawakians,” he added.
With that, Peter John underscored the importance of reviewing and amending relevant Sarawak laws and ensuring transparency in all processes to treat everyone equally or deservingly to safeguard and protect the rights of Sarawakians, particularly the natives.
Meanwhile, another social activist, Robert Saweng, a native of Kapit, who accompanied Peter to the police station, also expressed hope that both the Sarawak and Federal governments, along with the relevant authorities, will take serious proactive measures in this matter in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s policies to combat abuse of power and corruption. — DayakDaily
