By Simon Peter
KUCHING, March 26, 2025: A government back-bencher has suggested to the Sarawak government to consider granting native status to descendants of Chinese migrants who came to Sarawak for over 150 years ago. 
Unlike
the Syrians who migrated to Sarawak and became Melanaus over night, and
have since packed up their belongings and have left Sarawak, at least we
know the descendants of Chinese migrants are staying put in Sarawak for
the long term - Larry Sng
Julau MP Datuk Larry Sng said the majority of the descendants were born in this country and have served, fought, sacrificed and contributed immensely to the economic well being of the state.
He said the descendants should be granted the native status in view of the state’s uniqueness in terms of racial composition and religious diversity of its population and autonomy in certain areas.
“Unlike the Syrians who migrated to Sarawak and became Melanaus over night, and have since packed up their belongings and have left Sarawak, at least we know the descendants of Chinese migrants are staying put in Sarawak for the long term,” Sng, who is also Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) president, said in a statement, in an indirect reference to Raghad Waleed Alkurdi and her two sons who became Melanaus after she married former Governor the lateTun Abdul Taib Mahmud.
“This (granting the descendants the native status) is something I hope the state government would consider and legislate into law for the benefit of the state and all its people,” he added.
Sng said he is grateful that one of his staff members, a Sarawakian of Chinese and Orang Ulu parentage, has finally received her Bumiputera status, after 48 years.
“This is great news for many Sarawakians who are of mixed parentage, who were previously unable to inherit native land from their mothers and had to miss out on many benefits and job opportunities despite many being poor,” he said.
He added some families in the past chose to register their children under the mother’s name so as to overcome this issue, and in doing so, losing the father’s heritage.
