Julau MP, Larry Sng, is making waves online after he called for the government to consider giving the Sarawakian Chinese Bumiputera status.
Taking to his Facebook page, he shared how a staff member of his recently received her Bumiputera status after decades of waiting, while adding that many Sarawakians have had to find loopholes to work around not having Bumiputera status.
He wrote, “After 48 years, my staff, who is Sarawakian of mixed parentage (Chinese and Orang Ulu), has finally received her Bumiputera status. This is great news for many Sarawakians who are of mixed parentage, who were previously unable to inherit native land from their mothers, and had to miss out on many benefits and job opportunities despite many being poor.”
“Some families, in the past, chose to register their children under the mother’s name to overcome this issue, and in doing so, lost the fathers’ heritage. I am glad that we can put this chapter behind us.”
A Syrian-born woman was given Bumiputera status
He ultimately believes that the Sarawakian Chinese community has been around long enough to be considered Bumiputeras, and brought up how the late former Sarawak Chief Minister‘s second wife, Syrian-born Datuk Patinggi Raghad Kurdi Taib, and her children were granted Bumiputera status as part of the Melanau community.
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“In view of Sarawak’s uniqueness in racial composition, religious diversity and autonomy in certain areas, by being a region and not a state, perhaps the state’s leaders should consider granting Bumiputera status to Sarawakians of Chinese descent. Many of whom have family ancestry dating back as far as 150 years,”
“The overwhelming majority were born in this country and have served, fought, sacrificed and contributed immensely to the economic well-being of the state. Unlike the Syrians who migrated to Sarawak and became Melanau overnight, and have since packed up their belongings after they got their riches, at least we know the Chinese are staying in Sarawak for the long term,” he added.
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