KUCHING: A proposal to grant Bumiputera status to third-generation Chinese Sarawakians should be carefully studied by the relevant authorities, particularly the Sarawak Customs Council, before any decision is made.
Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Snowdan Lawan, said the matter involves constitutional considerations and cannot be decided hastily without thorough evaluation by the responsible bodies.
He stressed that any decision should be guided by the council’s assessment on whether the proposal is appropriate within the state’s legal and cultural framework.
“I believe this matter rests with the Sarawak Customs Council. Let them determine whether it is a good proposal or otherwise,” he added.
He said this during a press conference on Sarawak hosting the Third Southeast Asian Tourist Guides Conference 2026 today.
Snowdan was responding to a proposal raised by Julau Member of Parliament, Larry Sng Wei Shien, who suggested in a recent podcast that the Sarawak Government consider extending Bumiputera status to third-generation Chinese residents in the state.
Clarifying the current position, Snowdan noted that Sarawak already has provisions recognising Bumiputera status, particularly in cases involving mixed marriages.
“At present, if the father is a Bumiputera Sarawakian and the mother is not, the child is automatically recognised as Bumiputera. This is already provided for under our ordinance,” he explained.
However, he described the proposal involving third-generation individuals as a new issue that requires deeper legal and policy examination.
“This may be something new, so the Customs Council can study and deliberate on it carefully,” he said.
At the same time, Snowdan noted that Sarawak remains committed to safeguarding the rights of Bumiputera communities as the state’s indigenous population.
“There is nothing wrong with raising the issue of the third generation, but in Sarawak we are very protective of our rights, especially those of the Bumiputera as the original inhabitants,” he said.
He further noted that the issue must also be viewed from a broader legal perspective, involving both state and federal jurisdictions, including alignment with the Federal Constitution of Malaysia and the Sarawak State Constitution.
Snowdan also highlighted the importance of the Malaysia Agreement 1963, which safeguards Sarawak’s rights and must be taken into account in any policy considerations.
Earlier, Sng, who is also the president of Parti Bangsa Malaysia, argued that third-generation Chinese Sarawakians could be considered for Bumiputera status in recognition of their longstanding contributions to the state’s development and economy.
He also pointed to recent developments allowing children of mixed marriages to claim Bumiputera status following the enforcement of the Interpretation (Amendment) Ordinance 2022.
