The row over the freeze on native certificates has turned into political rallying point.
KOTA KINABALU: The almost 30-year-old freeze on the issuance of “native certificates” or “sijil anak negeri” has turned into a rallying point for the Sino-native community in Sabah.
The “hottest topic next to soaring food and fuel prices” has brought together the diverse community in a bid to consolidate its identity and redeem its constitutional right under native laws.
Sino-natives are children born of marriages between native women and non-native men.
The native certificates gave these children of mixed marriages an opportunity to follow their native and non-native culture and tradition much like the Peranakans in the Peninsula and Singapore.
But like the Peranakans, whom Umno has never acceped as Malays or natives because they are not Muslims, the Sino-natives also suffered a similar fate due to the slant of the New Economic Policy implemented by the Barisan Nasional regime since the early 1970s.
The policies, according to Sabah DAP, had discriminated against the Sino-natives, especially when they apply for jobs in the public service.
In fact, until 1982, children of such mixed marriages were issued native certificates which gave access to educational opportunities and allow them to inherit or buy native title lands in Sabah.
“But things changed after 1982. I am thankful that the native certificate problem is now becoming a rallying point for Sino-natives to exert their rights,” said Sabah DAP chairman Jimmy Wong.
Wong is a Sino-native but had his native certificare cancelled “for reasons best known only to the government”.
Delaying tactic
Since then the DAP has been demanding that the state government re-issue native certificates and recognise Sino-natives.
But the state, however, seems to be in no hurry although the fairly large community is angry.
Said Wong: “Although I am upset at my situation, I am very happy to note that something positive is coming out of my predicament.
“Since my case has been blown out of proportion by Umno, the Sino-natives have formed their own association and now the government is inviting the views of the Chief Justice of Sabah and Sarawak, Richard Malanjun,” he said, adding that this was a good sign for Sino-natives.
He urged all Sino-Natives to stand up and fight for their rights, while reminding them not to worry too much about him.
“I will fight my case when it is up for mention and I know many Sino-natives will be behind me on this issue,” said Wong, who is a lawyer.
According to him, the Umno-BN government is well aware of the provisions in the native law but is choosing to play “a delaying tactic game”.
“The government is pretending to be ignorant of this provision in the native law. What is so sensitive about this case?
“How about the issuance of MyKads to illegal immigrants who form its Umno-BN’s ‘fixed deposit’? This is a more sensitive issue,” Wong said.
KOTA KINABALU: The almost 30-year-old freeze on the issuance of “native certificates” or “sijil anak negeri” has turned into a rallying point for the Sino-native community in Sabah.
The “hottest topic next to soaring food and fuel prices” has brought together the diverse community in a bid to consolidate its identity and redeem its constitutional right under native laws.
Sino-natives are children born of marriages between native women and non-native men.
The native certificates gave these children of mixed marriages an opportunity to follow their native and non-native culture and tradition much like the Peranakans in the Peninsula and Singapore.
But like the Peranakans, whom Umno has never acceped as Malays or natives because they are not Muslims, the Sino-natives also suffered a similar fate due to the slant of the New Economic Policy implemented by the Barisan Nasional regime since the early 1970s.
The policies, according to Sabah DAP, had discriminated against the Sino-natives, especially when they apply for jobs in the public service.
In fact, until 1982, children of such mixed marriages were issued native certificates which gave access to educational opportunities and allow them to inherit or buy native title lands in Sabah.
“But things changed after 1982. I am thankful that the native certificate problem is now becoming a rallying point for Sino-natives to exert their rights,” said Sabah DAP chairman Jimmy Wong.
Wong is a Sino-native but had his native certificare cancelled “for reasons best known only to the government”.
Delaying tactic
Since then the DAP has been demanding that the state government re-issue native certificates and recognise Sino-natives.
But the state, however, seems to be in no hurry although the fairly large community is angry.
Said Wong: “Although I am upset at my situation, I am very happy to note that something positive is coming out of my predicament.
“Since my case has been blown out of proportion by Umno, the Sino-natives have formed their own association and now the government is inviting the views of the Chief Justice of Sabah and Sarawak, Richard Malanjun,” he said, adding that this was a good sign for Sino-natives.
He urged all Sino-Natives to stand up and fight for their rights, while reminding them not to worry too much about him.
“I will fight my case when it is up for mention and I know many Sino-natives will be behind me on this issue,” said Wong, who is a lawyer.
According to him, the Umno-BN government is well aware of the provisions in the native law but is choosing to play “a delaying tactic game”.
“The government is pretending to be ignorant of this provision in the native law. What is so sensitive about this case?
“How about the issuance of MyKads to illegal immigrants who form its Umno-BN’s ‘fixed deposit’? This is a more sensitive issue,” Wong said.
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