ALOR STAR: A Gerakan Youth leader has called on the federal government to grant Bumiputera status to all Malaysians born in the country regardless of their ethnic and religious backgrounds.
Gerakan Kedah Youth leader Tan Keng Liang said many Malaysians, especially Chinese and Indians, have been in this country for a long time, some even for nearly 200 years.
He said many of these Malaysians have not even set foot in the countries of their origin nor have famility ties or contact with people there.
To them, he said, the only country they know is Malaysia.
In view of this, Tan said Putrajaya should seriously consider categorising all Malaysian-born citizens, especially those whose parents or grandparents were also Malaysians as Bumiputera.
“This is line with the much-lauded ‘1Malaysia’ concept,” he added in a statement.
Tan said such a move would also be in line with the government’s recent decision to grant the status to some 60,000 Malaysian Siamese.
Recognise Chinese and Indians' contributions
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz justified it by saying that the Siamese have lived in the country for a long time along the Thai border in Kelantan, Kedah, Perlis and Perak.
Tan said the government should also appreciate the enormous contributions made by the Chinese and Indians as well.
He said both communities have also sacrificed tremendously to liberate the country from British colonial rule.
“No one can deny their pivotal role in helping to secure the nation's independence in 1957 and their vast contributions to the country's progress.
“Thus the government should grant them Bumiputera status,” he said, adding that the move would eliminate racial discrimination as well.
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