KOTA KINABALU – The term “Bumiputera” has been a bone of contention for indigenous groups in Sabah and Sarawak for years, with many claiming it has led to abuses, undue classification of race and exclusive economic benefits for one racial group.
Kanul Gindol, a social and political activist based in Kota Belud, said although the term was intended to group together Malays and east Malaysia's indigenous people, the ones benefiting from the “special position” are mostly Malays in Peninsular Malaysia.
Even the Orang Asli, the aborigines of the peninsula, are not officially recognised as Bumiputera.
“As far as the natives of Sabah and Sarawak, and also the Orang Asli, are concerned, the so-called privileges or rights accorded to the ‘sons of the soil’ or Bumiputera have not been fully extended to them compared with Malays,” said Kanul.
He said Bumiputera entitlements, such as shares and quotas in big companies, are mostly – if not all – given to Malays. Very little is left for the other native groups in East Malaysia.
Kanul said he believes the Bumiputera initiative has been exploited to justify billions of ringgit in allocation to assist the poor, while the monies are channelled to a “certain group of people” in power.
This is based on the widespread notion that most poor and underprivileged come from the Bumiputera ethnic groups.
Kanul claims that the Orang Asli would have millionaires among them today if the allocations were made out directly to the community.
His comments come in the wake of criticism surfacing on questionable “privileges” given to some following Budget 2021’s whopping RM11.1 billion allocation for Bumiputeras, with other communities getting far less.
There has been clamour for the Bumiputera status to be reviewed, with more help given to poor Sabahans, Sarawakians, Orang Asli and others.
Rights of Sabahans, Sarawakians overlooked
According to Paul Raja, president of Sarawak-based Dayak National Congress, the “Bumiputera” term has no bearing on the indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak, who are worse off than the non-natives and feel they are treated as “second class” Bumiputera.
“Our privileges and rights as natives have been overlooked time and again apparently, as we do not command much political weight, as far as Malaysian politics is concerned.
“This is made worse by muted Dayak politicians who shamelessly oppress their own communities just to be given sugar plums and to fill their own pockets,” he said.
Raja said that if the rights and privileges of the Dayaks and indigenous people of Sabah are given effect as enshrined in the federal constitution, there would be no need to have “such a savourless word” that only causes animosity among the races.
Based on his observation, the word “Bumiputera” seems to resonate when the Malaysian economy is intertwined with politics, as it is used to lobby and build business empires.
The term does not help poor indigenous people much as they struggle to improve their education and living conditions.
“One doesn’t need to be a Bumiputera to succeed in life. Today, it’s the rich and powerful elites who contend with each other about being a Bumiputera,” he said.
“So, what they do is just drum up the poor folks to go to the streets to defend their Bumiputera status. In doing so, they perpetuate their elite status while keeping the poor folks on handouts, killing two birds with one stone,” he said.
Raja said the cry for Bumiputera status is not from native Sabahans and Sarawakians but from “beyond the sea”. Certain sections of the Sarawak population have benefited from being Bumiputera, but the majority have not.
“Many people have left the country because of bad and lopsided national policies and discrimination. Ending the practice of Bumiputera may be the first step towards national reconciliation and nation-building,” he said. – The Vibes, November 26, 2020
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