THE indigenous native communities of both Sarawak and Sabah should unite under one common identity, said a deputy state minister from Sarawak.
By uniting under one identity, the natives of Malaysian Borneo will have a very strong voice, said Sarawak Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Gerald Jabu.
Speaking during a gathering with a group of Kadazan-Dusuns in Kuching, he said there were proposals from some Sabah leaders for a common term to be used to describe the natives of Sarawak and Sabah.
"It will be ideal for all of us natives of Sarawak and Sabah to have a common identity. There are calls for the use of the term Dayaks.
"We in Sarawak will surely give our support," he said.
Jabu said having a common identity will enable all the natives of Malaysian Borneo to unite in their quest for social and economic progress.
He suggested that organisations representing the native communities from Sarawak and Sabah meet more often to discuss the unification idea.
Sarawak has a population of three million, with about 60 percent from the native groups. - The Vibes, May 6, 2024.
