Six native students' race changed to Malay, raises fear among parents

http://www.malaysianmirror.com/media-buzz-detail/139-sarawak/50829-six-native-students-race-changed-to-malay-raises-fear-among-parents

Six native students' race changed to Malay, raises fear among parents 38
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Chris Reubens

Tuesday, 30 November 2010 18:20

KUCHING - A group of parents who received their children’s report cards were shocked to find that their native children of Lun Bawang, Kelabit, Iban have been changed to 'Keturunan Melayu' instead of the usual lain-lain.

Parents of six students have jointly wrote a letter to the President of Sarawak Teachers Union, William Ghani Bina about the issue stating that the students' official religion is Christian and that they consume pork on a daily basis.

According to State PKR Chief Baru Bian, a father has also refused to sign his son’s report card unless the school reverts the son's official status from 'Malay' to 'Others'.

Baru Bian said based from the complainants' report cards, the matter appeared to have come from the one school in Miri.

“The school is in the Miri city vicinity. I believed that there could be other cases from the phone calls I have received. I have asked all parents to check their children’s report cards and provide proof,” he said.

Baru Bian said he wanted the Education Ministry to investigate the matter immediately and revert back the original status of the students.

He also asked why native students of Dayak origins should be called Melayu or Malay in schools now.

“If we look at the Constitution of Malaysia, the Malay race or Melayu under Article 160 is clearly defined as a person who professes the religion of Islam, habitually speaks the Malay language, conforms to Malay custom and was before Merdeka Day born in the Federation or in Singapore or born of parents one of whom was born in the Federation or in Singapore, or is on that day domiciled in the Federation or in Singapore," he said.

Furthermore, the Federal Constitution also clearly defines what constitutes a "native": a person who is a citizen and either belongs to one of the races specified in Clause (7) as indigenous to the State or is of mixed blood deriving exclusively from those races; and in relation to Sabah, a person who is a citizen, is the child or grandchild of a person of a race indigenous to Sabah, and was born (whether on or after Malaysia Day or not) either in Sabah or to a father domiciled in Sabah at the time of the birth.

Clause (7) states that the races to be treated for the purposes of the definition of "native" in Clause (6) as indigenous to Sarawak are the Bukitans, Bisayahs, Dusuns, Sea Dayaks, Land Dayaks, Kadayans, Kalabit, Kayans, Kenyahs (Including Sabups and Sipengs), Kajangs (including Sekapans, Kejamans, Lahanans, Punans, Tanjongs and Kanowits), Lugats, Lisums, Malays, Melanos, Muruts, Penans, Sians, Tagals, Tabuns and Ukits,” he said.

Baru Bian said one parent went to the school to complain but was told that the status cannot be changed as it was already in the system and the education officer in-charge was not able to make the changes.

“We echo the concerns of these parents because it has great implications in the future. If such status is not clarified and maintained, it can be implied that a native person, once he or she is classified as a MALAY in official school documents, is a MUSLIM by virtue of the definition of Article 160,” he added.

When contacted by MM, the President of Sarawak Teachers Union William Ghani Bina confirmed that he has received a complaint letter recently and has discussed the matter with the Sarawak Deputy Director of Education.

He said the matter is serious as it could cause a lot of misunderstanding: “If you call these students Malays, but they consume non-halal food in public, it is offending the Malay and Islam. And with Christmas coming along, it is not right. These children are church goers but will be celebrating their Christmas under the Malay status,” he stressed.

“We respect the Malay and we also want to be respected and be known by our own race and dialects,” he added.

According to William, it was found that it was neither the fault of the teachers nor the schools concerned but it was a directive from the Education Exam Division of the Ministry.


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