KUCHING: A proposal to accord equal Bumiputera status and privileges to non-Bumiputera groups in Sarawak is prompting calls for careful and open-minded consideration.
This comes in the wake of remarks by Julau MP Datuk Larry Sng, who cited a survey indicating that Malay and Dayak communities have no objection to such a policy shift.
SUPP Stakan branch chairman Datuk Sim Kiang Chiok said if the survey findings accurately reflect public sentiment, the matter deserves serious and inclusive discussion by all stakeholders.
He said that Sarawak has long been recognised for its strong multiracial harmony, built on mutual respect and understanding among diverse communities living peacefully together.
“Moving towards greater equality among Sarawakians would further strengthen unity while reducing perceptions of superiority or inferiority rooted in race-based classifications,”he said in a press statement on Friday (March 27).
He said that such a shift would allow public policies to focus more on merit, capability, and genuine socio-economic needs rather than racial categorisation alone.
He stressed that the proposal should not be viewed as diminishing the rights of any community, but rather as an effort to uplift all Sarawakians collectively and fairly.
Sim added that Sarawak’s wealth of natural resources and economic opportunities should be shared more inclusively to ensure balanced development and long-term sustainability across all communities.
He also highlighted that fostering inclusivity could help retain local talents, reduce brain drain, and strengthen the state’s competitiveness in an increasingly challenging global economic landscape.
Ultimately, he said Sarawak’s strength lies in its unity in diversity, and any policy encouraging inclusiveness, fairness, and shared prosperity must be carefully evaluated moving forward.
