Recognition of Taib’s wife as Bumiputera reeks of double standards, say locals

Bede Hong Desmond Davidson Bede Hong, Desmond Davidson Updated 8 years ago · Published on 3 Feb 2018 6:56PM · 8 Comments

THE granting of Bumiputera status to the Syrian-born wife of Sarawak Governor Abdul Taib Mahmud has earned condemnation from Sarawakian opposition parties and civil society leaders.

According to copies of the Sarawak Gazette, which have gone viral on social media, Syrian-born Ragad Kurdi Taib and her two sons are now officially recognised as part of the Melanau community, allowing them to hold native title lands.

Ragad, wife of the 82-year-old Taib Mahmud, and her sons, Nizar Mahmoud Madi and Sam Mahmoud Madi, were made Melanau under Section 20 of the state’s Native Court Ordinance 1992 and rule 17F of the Native Court Rules 1993.

Sarawak PKR deputy chairman Abdul Jalil Bujang, who is Melanau, said the recognition showed a double standard where Ragad’s recognition was fast-tracked while some natives remain stateless, or have spouses who have yet to be approved for permanent residency despite being married for decades.

“The person should be ashamed to apply as a native, knowing very well it is unnatural,” said Jalil.

“What respect have you got for that type of person?”

DAP youth leader Abdul Aziz Isa, who is the grand-nephew of Taib, said there are thousands “of other more deserving applicants” for citizenship.

“Ragad could not know the hardship Sarawakians face in being treated fairly as a Malaysian,” said Aziz, who is Melanau on his father’s side.

Aziz said thousands of Malaysians, including the Orang Asal, remain stateless and are still awaiting approval to be recognised “merely as a Malaysian, even though they have ancestors who have lived and worked to develop the land.”

“What is more doubtful, is how Ragad, who is foreign-born, is not only able to obtain citizenship in such a short time, but she even obtained a Bumiputera status.”

In a statement today, Bill Jugah, a member of Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), questioned the speed with which Ragad was conferred her Bumiputera status.

“There are countless indigenous people born in Sarawak who are either stateless or not holding proper identification documents and they have been waiting for ages for their documents,” he said.

“Also, spouses of Sarawak citizens who have gone through arduous processes to obtain their permanent residency have waited for more than ten years without any word on their applications.

“Is there a different set of laws applicable to the rich and influential while another set of laws for the common people?”

Bill said the case highlighted the fact that “those with access to power and influence” were able to circumvent procedures meant for the process of applying for citizenship as well as for Bumiputera status.

In normal procedures, a candidate has to undergo due and fair processes such as being proficient in the language of that race and practices or conforms to the customs and cultures of that particular community.

Some Sarawakians responded to the granting of Bumiputera status to Ragad with disbelief, while some said the move would hopefully set a precedent for other deserving Sarawakians to apply for their status.

“The state government has set a precedent,” said businessman Muthu Samy, who is married to a Bidayuh, and has a teenage son not considered as Bumiputera.

Under the national registration rule, the race of a child follows their father’s.

Muthu, who operates an Indian restaurant in Kuching, said he had for some years been pondering when to get his son the native status so he could inherit his mother’s native property.

“I’ve been told, and also hearing a lot from families and friends, the application process would be long and not easy.

“That’s the reason why I was never in a hurry.

“But the speed and ease in which Ragad, an Arab woman and her two Arab children got their Melanau Bumiputera status showed it could be done quickly,” he said.

“If foreigners can get the native status quickly and with ease, then my Sarawak-born, genuine half-Bumiputera son should get his even quicker,” Muthu, a second generation Sarawak-born Indian himself, told The Malaysian Insight.

“If not, then the government has just opened Pandora’s box.” – February 3, 2018.

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Comments

  • As long as ur loyal ketuanan's fellas,even pig also can become bumiputera

    Posted 8 years ago by Leslie Chan · Reply

  • Sarawakian ate a stupid lot if this news is true! Wake up and correct the damage you have been through all these while. Now a Syrian can be a bumiputera....shame on you Taib!

    Posted 8 years ago by Crishan Veera · Reply

  • According to Press reports, Ragad's citizenship was also fast-tracked. She had voted in a previous Sarawak state election in 2016, and was even said to have voted during the election before that. Apparently that was within 6 years, way before the number of years required to qualify for citizenship.

    Posted 8 years ago by K TWong · Reply

  • She is just making sure that when husband dies she and her heirs can own Taib land - set for life. Smart woman! Is it too late to give all this land to the state, goes for all the money made from deforestation that found its way to Canada, Australia.... Guess not!

    Posted 8 years ago by Bob Archie · Reply

  • Parliament should enact a law where there should be a limit to stupidity .

    Posted 8 years ago by Joseph Ally · Reply

  • This is where bn malays have become so idiotic to be as stupid as pigs. Yes, they have progressed, but in backward fashion. Same as in zimbabwe, sudan, etc.

    Posted 8 years ago by Landy Oz · Reply

  • This is where bn malays have become so idiotic to be as stupid as pigs. Yes, they have progressed, but in backward fashion. Same as in zimbabwe, sudan, etc.

    Posted 8 years ago by Landy Oz · Reply

  • “Is there a different set of laws applicable to the rich and influential while another set of laws for the common people?” That much is obvious.

    Posted 7 years ago by Roger 5201 · Reply