Any attempt to redefine the term "Bumiputera" must comply with the Federal and State Constitutions, says Karim

KUCHING, March 29 2026: PBB information chief  Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah explained that any efforts to redefine the term “Bumiputera” must comply with the provisions of Federal Constitution and the State Constitution.

Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah says any change to redefine the Bumiputera status must go through the appropriate legislative process

He said there is a need to look at what the two constitutions say on who qualifies to be called “Bumiputera” before any proposal is adopted to extend the Bumiputera status to the third generation Sarawakians of Chinese descent.

“Any change to redefine the status must go through the appropriate legislative process,” Karim, who is also the Minister of  Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, told reporters at his ministry’s Hari Raya open house at a hotel here. 

He said he believes that many in Sarawak are not aware that if the husband or wife is a Bumiputera from Sabah and Sarawak, their children can immediately buy land with indigenous status.

"That's good enough, there's no need to give them Bumiputera status. Sometimes I feel like proposals like this are just rhetoric, maybe because the state election is approaching," he said.

He said he is not surprised with Julau MP Larry Sng’s recent suggestion for the third generation Sarawakian of Chinese descent be granted the Bumiputera status, saying that Larry was playing politics.

In his Tuak Talk podcast, Larry, who is also Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) president, suggested to the Sarawak government to consider granting the Bumiputera status to the third generation Sarawakians of Chinese descent.

Last year, Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen had also made similar suggestion.

 

31yo Dr Jonathan killed in a single vehicle accident in Serian

SERIAN, March 29 2026: A 31-year old man was killed in a single vehicle accident at Jalan Datu Michael Ben here this morning.

Caption: Firemen extracting the body of Jonathan Chin trapped in the driver's seat - Photo by Bomba 

Serian Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) station commander Rosnani anak Malong, in a statement, said Dr Jonathan Chin Ching Ming died when his 4WD vehicle overturned.

She said Dr Chin was trapped in the driver’s seat when firemen arrived at the location.

“The operation extraction team carried out rescue work using special equipment to extract the victim.

“The victim was successfully removed, but was confirmed dead at the scene by the personnel from the Ministry of Health,” Rosnani said.

The victim's body was then handed over to the police for further action.

Dr Chin was the only person inside the vehicle.

Rosnani said the Serian Bomba station received a call about the accident 8.35am and its personnel arrived at the scene three minutes later.

SMK Long Lama celebrates its 60th anniversary with grand dinner graced by Sarawak premier

MIRI, March 28 2026:  Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Long Lama celetrates its 60^th anniversary tonight, with a grand dinner graced by Premier Abang Johari Openg at a hotel here.

Caption: Premier Abang Johari Openg being welcomed by Orang Ulu men dressed in their traditional costumes. 

Abang Johari said 60 years  is not just a number, but It is a journey of history, sacrifice and success. “From a school that started with modest facilities, SMK Long Lama today has grown into a fairly modern and proud educational institution in rural and even remote areas,” the premier said.

He added over the past six decades, this school has produced many successful and excellent Sarawakian children, many of whom are successful in  various professional fields.

“This proves that children from remote areas are also capable of success, as long as they are given the right opportunities, education and support.

“This success also shows that SMK Long Lama has carried out its responsibility very well in educating the younger generation in remote areas for a long time under the guidance of school principals who are very committed and responsible with their duties for these six decades,” Abang Johari said.

SMK Long Lama was first established in 1956 and began borrowing the Bukit Sabun School building – a classroom building with two classrooms and a dormitory.

The SMK Long Lama dormitory building is still used today by the Long Lama Agriculture Department and the roof of the dormitory was only replaced in 2001.

The old classroom building is located on the site of the Long Lama Agriculture Department's new block. Bukit Sabun School moved to a new site next to the Baram River on a piece of land donated by a Kayan woman named Ubong Imang in 1964/1965.

The first batch of students from Form 1 to 3 for Long Lama Government Secondary School moved to the current site in 1967.

The first buildings were a kitchen and dining hall (now used as Geranium Hostel) and a classroom block (on the site of the current Protea Hostel), two student dormitories and a principal's quarters. The road connecting Long Lama to the school was very muddy and students at that time had to use a bridge to cross to class.

There were no teachers' quarters in 1967.

Pregnant woman injured in a road accident, sent to Sarawak Heart Centre for treatment

KOTA SAMARAHAN, March 28 2026: A pregnant woman was injured when a vehicle she was driving collided with another vehicle near Taman Berlian, Kuching Outer Ring Road, here this evening.

Caption: Fireman cleaning the slippery road caused by the collision- Photo by Bomba 

She and the driver of another vehicle, who was also injured, were both sent to the Sarawak Heart Centre for treatment.

Kota Samarahan Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) station, in a statement, said both the vehicles were damaged in the collision that happened about  6.15pm.

“Upon arrival at the location, operation commander Paul Senum reported an accident involving two vehicles.

“A woman believed to be pregnant was still inside her vehicle and the firemen helped to remove the her and then taken her to the Heart Hospital using an Emergency Medical Response Service (EMRS) vehicle while the other driver was successfully removed before the firemen arrival at the location and was taken to the Heart Hospital using the Ministry of Health (MoH) ambulance,” Paul said.

 After ensuring the situation was safe, the firemen left for the station.

 

PBK president claims the increase in the number of SLA seats strengthens Bumiputera wing of PBB further

KUCHING, March 28 2026: The proposed increase of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (SLA) seats from 82 to 99 will  further strengthen the Bumiputera wing of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), claimed Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBB) president Voon Lee Shan (picture) 

He said if information that he has gathered is confirmed, the Bumiputera wing will get seven seats, while the Pesaka wing, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) will each get three seats and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), just one seat.

“Such a distribution raises serious concerns about fairness and genuine partnership within the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

“It suggests a consolidation of dominance by one faction while others are allocated seats in a manner that reflects political convenience rather than equality,” Voon stressed.

“This development is particularly alarming for the Dayak community,” he said, adding that despite being a significant demographic in Sarawak, their political influence continues to be constrained.

“If representation remains structurally limited, then leadership opportunities will remain equally out of reach. Participation without power is not empowerment—it is tokenism.” he complained.

Voon said democracy must offer real choices and fair competition, but when electoral boundaries are perceived to be engineered for predetermined outcomes, the very foundation of democracy is weakened.

“What remains is not a system of accountability, but one of control,” he charged.

“If such practices continue unchecked, we risk normalising a form of governance where democratic mechanisms exist only in form, but not in substance.

“This is a dangerous path—one where democracy, manipulated and diluted, can ultimately lead to authoritarianism,” he said.

He stressed that Sarawakians deserve better system where every vote carries equal weight, where representation is just, and where leadership is determined by the will of the people—not by the design of the system.