KUCHING: The Interpretation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 will be gazetted soon, revealed Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Law, MA63, and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Syeed Aman Ghazali.
She said the matter was currently managed by the state government through the State Secretary.
“The gazetting will be made as soon as possible, and maybe in two weeks’ time, everything can be implemented,” she added.
Haisdah was referring to the Bill which was passed during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting recently; it recognised 12 indigenous groups as native races of Sarawak.
These indigenous groups are the Bagatan, Bakong, Bemali, Berawan, Dali, Lakiput, Jatti Miriek, Narom, Sa’ban, Tatau, Tring and Vaie.
The amendment of the Bill also states that a child from a mixed marriage may be considered as a native even if only one of his/her parents is a native, subject to the conditions and requirements to be imposed by the State Executive Council (MMKN).
Hasidah was met by reporters after officiating at the closing ceremony of “Let’s Talk With Wanita” PEMADAM programme at Pustaka Negeri Sarawak on Sunday.
Meanwhile, when asked on the fight for one third of the total 222 seats in Parliament to be allocated for Sabah and Sarawak by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, Hasidah said the state would continue to fight for more elected representatives from the states in Parliament.
“It is our fight to claim our rights, especially on what had been stated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the Inter-government Committee (IGC) Report,” she said.
“We will still take this matter to the highest level. We do not know when the next general election is but we will continue this fight. If possible, before the general election,” she added.
