Race/Bangsa: Others/Lain-lain

Finally, the race status in official Government forms will soon be resolved with the latest announcement by the Government. Our children and grandchildren will soon have the benifit of filling up their application forms to reflect their actual citizenship status as either Kadazan or Dusun when listed in the column for Race/Bangsa.

NRD To Resolve Status Of Applications In Five Categories Soon

PUTRAJAYA, July 8 (Bernama) -- The National Registration Department will resolve status of applications in five categories soon, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein. He said the five categories were citizenship, permanent residency, absence of birth certificates, those concerning people of Sabah and Sarawak and street children. "These matters must be resolved quickly as there have been cases where applicants have waited years for an answer. This is not a good situation, especially for stateless people," he told a press conference here Wednesday. He added that if the people concerned passed security vetting, the government would approve their applications. -- BERNAMA

Related Articles on this Issue

NAJIB REMOVES 30% BUMIPUTERA QUOTA ON NEW SHAREHOLDING

By Wong Choon Mei, Suara Keadilan

In a bid to shore up flagging confidence in his leadership, Prime Minister Najib Razak removed a key pillar of the New Economic Policy with an announcement that firms seeking listing will no longer need to allocate 30 percent of their shares tobumiputera groups.

But while analysts cheered the move, they also said it would have muted impact given that it applied only to new listings and not existing companies.

“Overall, the message is good but the impact may be muted. It will take more than this to revive investor confidence in Malaysia,” said Azrul Azwa, economist at Bank Islam.

“It is not just about lowering protectionist barriers but also about raising the integrity of our judiciary and the independence of our institutions. How good our system is will be every bit as important. Even if foreigners return, they will insist their contracts are signed in Singapore or another country and this is a shameful indictment on our federal government.”

A highly abused NEP

Under the NEP launched in 1971 to eradicate poverty, a raft of rules were put in place to protect Malay and indigenous groups and ensure that they were not left out in the nation’s economic growth. But since then, high-level corruption by top government leaders themselves have resulted in widespread abuse of the policy’s implementation.

Meanwhile, the scandal-hit and under-performing Najib may have found himself with little choice but to further liberalise the market.

Due to receive a bad report card from all round after a hectic three months in office that has yielded little constructive result, the 55-year old PM has been resorting to big announcements with limited impact to reduce the growing public dissatisfaction with his administration.

“This is a good move for the long term. But note that it extends only to new listings, so don’t expect sell-downs in Tenaga or Telekom or other government-linked companies to non-bumi groups,” said Azrul.

“I don’t think there will be much backlash from the ordinary Malays although some of the bigger beneficiaries may instigate some protest. But to the ordinary bumi folk, the feeling is that they don’t enjoy anything anyway under the NEP. It only helps the big boys. Might as well dismantle it.”

Meanwhile, in place of the 30 percent requirement, Najib announced that at least 50 percent of the public spread in a new listing must be given to the Malays and other indigenous groups.

Under current market rules, 25 percent of a company’s shareholding – called the free float or public spread – must be offered and held by ordinary investors.

“The world is changing quickly and we must be ready to change with it or risk being left behind,” Najib said in a speech to an investment conference on Tuesday.

“It is not a time for sentiment or half measures but to renew our courage and pragmatism to take the necessary bold measures to advance the national interests for the long term benefit of all Malaysians.”

Do we really need a new investment firm Ekuinas

The PM also announced other measures aimed at making the country a more attractive investment destination.

They include raising foreign ownership of stock brokers and unit trust management firms to 70 percent from the existing 49 percent. Foreigners will also be allowed to own 100 percent of fund management companies.

At the same time, Najib also cut the powers of the Foreign Investments Committee, announcing that FIC approval will no longer be required for purchasing property in Malaysia – whether residential or commercial.

“We can only achieve high income by creating more opportunities for growth rather than protecting our narrow turf.We can only achieve our social equity goals by expanding the pie,” Najib said.

The PM also raised eyebrows by announcing the establishment of Ekuiti Nasional Berhad or Ekuinas, a new investment institution to promote the participation of bumiputera groups,

“We already have PNB. Then, there are the state-run investment arms, at national level, there is also Khazanah, Valuecap,” said a head of reasearch at a bank-backed brokerage.

“Why another one? It will only split up resources. If there is dissatisfaction about the performance of the existing ones, the solution is to change the management and not set up a brand new institution. This can lead to even more losses requiring fresh government allocations. It is something Malaysians need to scrutinize. Who benefits and how we can be sure they are accountable to the public for their investments.”

Adapted from m2day

Related Reading on this isue.

Comments on: Categorization for non-Muslim Bumiputra of Sabah and Sarawak

LINUNDUS reproduces the following comments from DL in reply to the comments made by ‘Annonymous” which was posted HERE.

“Hi Anonymous,

I am with Momogun’s comment on correcting the notion that Berjaya fell because of its proposal to change the term from ‘Natives’ to 'Peribumi' . It must have been defeated for many other reasons. I am also sure that Dtk Pairin will disagree with you especially since that would take away his so called legendary defeat of Berjaya as being one for the people of Sabah and its rights and the bru-har-har as propagated by the spindoctors of his political party much to paradox that we see him and colleagues do today. Whilst I am not sure on the authenticity of this, I am aware of the repeated nostalgic comments or questions that people have on what it could and how would it have been had Berjaya (despite its weaknesses) had to offer Sabah if it was able to continue Governing and where would we be today. That unfortunately is always said in Hindsight as hindsight is always 20/20.

I guess maybe God had his plans and rightly and probably, Berjaya had to fall not only because it had been consumed by power but to make us also now realise the type of political leaders that we have in our community till today and how they have taken so much away from us and how we should take back what is due - have u noted that the same people who were part of the 'victory for the people' in 1985 are still DCM, Minister in the Fed and Deputy Minister in the Fed? These same individuals are also still telling us that they are the hope and change that we can rely on for Sabah and her people and so and so forth.... Does it not resonate at all in your mind as to what is wrong with that picture? Does it not also make us now demand for a new type of representation ... not just rhetoric to which all of us have been a victim of.

Anyway, the actual issue at hand and my apologies for digressing earlier, is that the term 'Native' was and has never been rejected by anybody other than some misguided individuals who do not realise that the term Bumiputra is even worse than the term 'Peribumi!'.... it survived till now despite where we are today.

The term Bumiputra connotes an economic definition only as explained by Linundus in his blog and in one of his Sunday Forums published in the local paper.

To akin it to a race will be an affront to an identity of a person and it should remain as an economic definition for the purposes of the NEP only and for nothing else. Look at how far it has been abused by political parties and businessmen; some even have the audacity to categorising our natives as 'Muslim Bumiputra and Non-Muslim Bumiputra'. Why can't we the Kadazans, Dusuns, Muruts and other natives just accept our respective racial term (like you said Anonymous - that it should be in the official forms)? The Malays until today still has the word 'Malay' as one of the racial categories in the Government Forms. Until and unless and whilst this is a contradiction to what I had written earlier, the Malays would need to drop their term 'Malay' in the official forms and use the term 'Bumiputra', Chinese and Indians ....and no more Lain Lain etc. That type of racial categorisation would then be fair to all although taken with much bitter taste at least for me.

So never divide us by religion nor affiliations. We are Kadazans, Dusuns or Muruts etc no matter what creed we belong to, I agree with Linundus, in his earlier articles that the that term 'Natives of Sabah' (or even in this recent one , on 'Momogun') be the right definition to be emplaced in the Government Forms in the event that the respective races are not considered as suggested by you.

Kotohuadan Anonymous and my hats to your comments which I gracefully accept but humbly differ herein. This only proves the point that we in Sabah are now discussing on many issues and mess that our own political representatives have brought us to.

A book written by Malcolm Gladwell aptly titled as 'The Tipping Point' describes where we are today. The issue of racial definition is just one of the many tipping points that we in Sabah and even our brethen in Sarawak are now in.

If a dialogue is not possible, by putting to pen electronically our respective thoughts will probably suffice and bring many more new ideas by our fellow Sabahans who may have their thoughts to share. This should be encouraged and Linundus is now amongst the many Bloggers who may bring us the actual change that we have been waiting for or due for. Once again, my apologies for the long reply but I enjoyed writing this as it puts out a feeling that I proudly share with many of friends but never put onto pen.

Regards.

DL”

"Bumiputra Sabah" proposal by PBS

I was right when I posted my comment against the proposal to classify the ethnic races of Sabah to be known as ‘Bumiputra Sabah’ in lieu of ‘other races’ in the Federal Government affairs and forms. 

Johnny Mositun is the PBS Information Chief and the Deputy Speaker of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly who made the proposal which was published in the Daily Express Thursday April 9, 2009 and also in the Bernama report Wednesday April 8, 2009 and I quote as follows:

“Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) wants the ethnic races of Sabah to be known as Bumiputera Sabah and not as 'other races' in the Federal government affairs and forms.

Its chief information officer, Johnny Mositun said this was in line with the '1Malaysia' concept introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak which emphasised on fair and impartial treatment of all ethnic races.

He said the categories of races in most forms listed major races as the Malays, Chinese, Indians and other races.

"As such the ethnic groups of Sabah and Sarawak fall under the 'other races' category. It is high time that Bumiputeras in Sabah as well as in Sarawak are recognised as clusters of major races in Malaysia.

"There are more than 30 ethnic races in Sabah. This include Kadazandusun, Murut, Bajau and Rungus but it is suffice if the cluster is known as Bumiputera Sabah and not as other races," he told Bernama here, Wednesday.”

My contention was, and still is, that ‘Bumiputra Sabah’ is not the right term to call the ethnic races of Sabah as its connotation is purely an economical term. And I am proven right when the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak removed the 30% bumiputra equity condition in 27 services sub-sectors, with immediate effect (refer to Star Wednesday April 22, 2009).

“Business communities have applauded the removal of the 30% bumiputra equity quota in 27 services sub-sectors, saying the new regulation will attract more investments and create a competitive business environment” the Star reported on Thursday April 23, 2009.

Association of Malaysian Hauliers (AMH) president Datuk Ahmad Shalimin Shaffie said the move was timely due to the drop in cargo volume which was affecting every player in the whole supply chain, including haulage. The StarOnLine.

National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia secretary-general Datuk Syed Hussein Al Hasbhee said Malaysian companies would be better positioned to penetrate booming international markets such as in the Middle East.

“Race should not be a factor as long as they can bring in the money and promote their services,” Datuk Syed Hussein added. The StarOnLine.

If we, the Natives of Sabah, are classified as such, then we would have suffered this drawback in view of the Government Policy to remove the Bumiputra proviso.

The term ‘Bumiputra’ is an economic designation/description of those given special affirmative action under the New Economic Policy. It was never intended to be a description of a race but rather to differentiate the non-Bumiputra with the Bumiputras when according special privileges to the beneficiaries of the NEP.

The indigenous people of Sabah are described and known as the ‘Natives of Sabah’. This description ‘Native’ is defined clearly in the Interpretation (Definition of Native) Ordinance Cap 64 and is recognised in the Federal Constitution likewise. The Natives of Sabah have special privileges in addition to the privileges in the National Economic Policy (NEP), and that is the right to own Native Titled Lands in Sabah; our special Native Customary laws and other privileges as guaranteed by the Ordinances, Statutes and the State and Federal Constitutions to which the other races like the Malays (who are Bumiputras too) are not accorded with as far as Sabah is concerned.

“Bumiputra Sabah” proposal by Johnny Mositun

I refer to Johny Mositun’s proposal (DE Thursday, April 9, 2009) that “Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS)wants the ethnic races of Sabah to be known as Bumiputera Sabah and not as "other races" (dan lain lain) in Federal Government affairs and forms”.

I am appalled by his proposal to categorize the ethnic races of Sabah to be known as such when the term “Bumiputra” is not a racial definition at all.

Let us first get this point right. The term ‘Bumiputra’ is an economic designation/description of those given special affirmative action under the New Economic Policy. It was never intended to be a description of a race but rather to differentiate the non-Bumiputra with the Bumiputras when according special privileges to the beneficiaries of the NEP. The history and reasons for this is well documented and I urge Johny Mositun to peruse through the same from the collections of books that the State Assembly should have at his disposal.

Whilst we each know our own ethnic description, we in Sabah have an even more special group general description and which description is known as the ‘Natives of Sabah’. This description ‘Native’ is defined clearly in the Interpretation (Definition of Native) Ordinance Cap 64 and is recognised in the Federal Constitution likewise. We, the Natives of Sabah have special privileges in addition to the privileges in the NEP, and that is the right to own Native Titled Lands in Sabah, our special Native Customary laws and other privileges as guaranteed by the Ordinances, Statutes and the State and Federal Constitution to which the other races like the Malays (who are Bumiputras too) are not accorded with as far as Sabah is concerned.

To dwell into this interpretation would be too long but a short reading of the ordinance will suffice to put right the proposal made by Johny Mositun.

READ ENTIRE POST