SOME of Sarawak’s political leaders and civil rights activists have questioned the need for one to apply to be recognised as a native of Sarawak under the Interpretation (Amendment) Ordinance 2022.

They are also questioning the RM100 application fee saying it could be too steep for the ethnic natives living in rural areas.

Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian said while he is glad that the date of enforcement has finally been decided, he is, however, concerned that the application process might create other bureaucratic problems and financial burden for the people who have waited so long for a solution.

Baru said making the applications at the district office and then waiting for the State Secretary and his committee to consider the applications will inevitably lead to delays as the State Secretary will not always be around and besides, he has many other duties to attend to.

The application, the Party Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) secretary-general said, should be dealt with at the district level by the district officer or the Sarawak administrative officer (SAO).

“The process of native status recognition should be made simple and easy, and the district officer or SAO are best placed to handle such applications,” he said.

Baru added by giving them decision-making powers, it would avoid unnecessary delays.

The added advantage, he pointed out, is that these officers have the local knowledge and connections to enable them to grant approvals speedily.

Baru also asked if new born babies are also required to make the application.

“Do they need to make applications eventually or is there a possibility that their status should be inserted in their birth certificate upon registration of their birth?

“I am sure the state government can make arrangements with the National Registration Department on this matter.”

On the RM100 processing fee, Baru said it is prohibitive, especially if there are multiple applications from one family.

He said it might be a hurdle and prevent eligible Sarawak folk from making the applications.

“A fee of RM10 should be sufficient, as the government does not want to be seen as making money from the people who need such a crucial right to be recognised by the state.”

Parti Bumi Kenyalang president, Voon Lee Shan, said the fee is heavy especially to natives in rural areas and should not be imposed at all.

Since the law has recognised them as natives, why is there a need for them to make an application and impose an unnecessary burden on them, he asked.

“To the natives who live far from towns, in places inaccessible by roads, the costs of going to the district office may incur much of their expenses and time.

“They may have to spend some nights in town before going home. Again, upon approval as a native, the applicant has to travel to town again just to collect the necessary document,” Voon said.

He is now urging the state government to withdraw the fee.

“The imposition of a fee shows the Sarawak government lacks sincerity in helping natives to solve this problem,” he said.

“Why the need to apply?” asked the deputy president of Global Human Rights Federation, Peter John Jaban.

The rights activist said children of mixed marriage who now qualify to be categorised as a Sarawak native should be an automatic process.

Jaban said the application process will become an unnecessary obstacle in the recognition of this status and the provision of native land titles.

“This requirement to apply for recognition could prove to be problematic in many ways. First, the fee could be punitive for impoverished or marginalised community members.

“Second, it continues to suggest that there is some kind of continuing assessment by the district office and other government agencies.”

He said he feared the requirement could lead to an administrative backlog. – September 20, 2023.