KUCHING: The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Women’s Wing Supreme Council has voiced its agreement and support for the proposal to update the definition of ‘natives’ in the Federal Constitution.
PBB Women’s Wing treasurer Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali made the proposal in a press statement on Sept 22.
The Assistant Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring Minister had pointed out that the definition of ‘natives’ in the Federal Constitution did not wholistically reflect the numerous different races of natives in Sarawak.
“We trust that the updating of this definition will give a better picture of those who are natives by including all the native races.
“This should result in a much better understanding of the numerous races that comprised the natives of Sarawak with distinct culture, tradition and language of their own.
“These characteristics are what make Sarawak unique,” she said after the PBB Women’s Wing Supreme Council meeting on Tuesday (Sept 28).
Sharifah Hasidah stated that the Majlis Adat Istiadat Sarawak (Council for Native Customs and Traditions) or MAIS would be involved in the process.
As such, she expressed hopes for MAIS as well as natives to assist in naming and including those that may have been left out.
“It is crucial for us to update the definition because we do not want any natives to be left out as it is one of the human rights that need to be recognised.
“No matter how small the group may be, they too must be recognised in the Federal Constitution. This is in line with the Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s efforts to be an inclusive government.”
Sharifah Hasidah also pointed out that apart from Malays, Chinese and Dayaks, the rest of the natives would be conveniently categorised as others or ‘lain-lain’, which is very concerning.
