KUCHING: If you are a native of Sarawak and are yet to be recognised as one officially, you can now rejoice as the authorities are accepting applications for native status from Nov 1 onwards.
According to Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63, and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, “with reference to the enforcement date of the Interpretation (Amendment) Ordinance 2022, in relation to the determination of native status of any person, the government has decided that the date of enforcement of the said Ordinance is on Nov 1”.
In line with the provisions of the Ordinance, she said there are three qualifying criteria for anyone to be recognised as a native of Sarawak.
They are:
- He/she must be a Malaysian citizen;
- He/she must be a natural born child of a person of a race indigenous to Sarawak; and
- One of his/her parents is a person of a race indigenous to Sarawak
“To hasten the application process, the Sarawak government will establish a committee headed by our State Secretary to consider the applications for recognition as a native.
“With that, our children can now get their native status, and even inherit their native land,” she said during a press conference held at Wisma Bapa here today.
She also said that effective Nov 1, any application for recognition as a native can be made at any District Office in Sarawak, with a fee of RM100 per application.
“I am sure that with this implementation, it will help the indigenous and native community in obtaining their rights,” she added.
For the record, the Interpretation (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 was unanimously passed at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) last year.
The amendment added 12 additional races in the Schedule of the Interpretation Ordinance.
Currently, natives listed in the Schedule are Bagatan, Bakong, Bemali, Berawan, Bidayuh or Land Dayak (including Salako, Rara, Jagoi, Singai, Biatah and Bukar-Sadong), Bisaya, Buket or Ukit, Dali, Dusun, Iban or Sea Dayak, Jatti Miriek, Kajang (including Sekapan, Kejaman, Lahanan, Punan, Tanjong and Kanowit), Kayan, Kedayan, Kelabit, Kenyah (including Badeng, Sebop and Seping), Lakiput, Lisum, Logat, Malay, Melanau, Murut or Lun Bawang, Narom, Penan, Sa’ban, Sihan, Tabun, Tagal, Tatau, Tring and Vaie.
