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Sunday, February 3, 2019

SAPP condemns Warisan minister's proposal to nativize migrants

KOTA KINABALU - Referring to recent Daily Express news headline “Bugis and Jawa as natives”, Japiril bin Suhaimin said he totally disagree and condemn Law and Native Affairs Minister Datuk Aidi Moktar’s proposal and intention to include Bugis and Jawa communities who hailed from Indonesia’s Java and Sulawesi territories as natives of Sabah.

Japiril, who is also Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Deputy President cum Treasurer General, said such insensitive statement coming from a minister should not be taken lightly as it encroaches into the indigenous rights of the original Sabahan natives.

“To recognise them as natives is also breaching of fiduciary duties of the State to protect the interest of the Natives of Sabah according to our Sabah constitution,” he added, “if they want native status…they can always go back to Indonesia where they are naturally accorded this status.”

“If length of stay is the criteria to be natives, then there will a whole lot of Indians, Chinese and some others who have also resided in Sabah during pre-independence should also qualify.

“How can the Javanese and Bugis be indigenous when they migrated from neighbouring country Indonesia?” he asked.

What more do this migrants want when they have already got citizenship and privileges, said Japiril, who quoted a Malay proverb “Diberi betis hendak paha”.

“What unfairness did the Warisan minister meant when in fact, the Javanese and Bugis enjoying scholarships, contractor bumi licences, ASB (Amanah Saham Bumiputra), special university entry to Uitm and many others,” he contended.

“If they were given native status here, which also mean they can buy and own Native Title (NT) land as well as the eligibility to apply for NT land.

Native representatives especially those whom are from the state government should not keep mum on this issue, he told.

"The Warisan-led government wasted a lot of time delaying the appointment of native Chiefs, MPKK (previously JKKK) chairmen and now trying to review the Native Ordinance. The paralysis of this incompetent government is a great injustice to the people," he said.

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