Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) has called on the federal government to officially recognise “Dayak” as an ethnic category, instead of placing the community under “Others” in government forms and systems.
PBDS secretary-general Sanjan Daik said the appeal was raised by party leaders, including president John Brian Anthony, during a meeting with the Prime Minister’s Department’s Sabah and Sarawak affairs division yesterday.
The meeting was held at PBDS headquarters and attended by Ahmad Nazib Johari, a political secretary to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and former Sarawak PKR chairman.
Sanjan said the recognition of Dayak identity should not remain an issue that is repeatedly discussed without a clear resolution.
“The recognition of Dayak identity must not remain an issue that is repeatedly discussed from time to time without any definitive resolution,” he said, according to Borneo Post.
The former DAP member also pointed out that in 2015, then minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Joseph Entulu Belaun announced that the Cabinet had agreed to include “Dayak” in official government forms.
However, Sanjan said the decision was only implemented in forms that did not require amendments to existing laws.
He explained that while some government forms allowed applicants to leave the race section blank and state their own ethnicity, others continued to provide a fixed list of options.
Sanjan stressed that recognising Dayak identity was about more than changing a category on official documents, as it also involved historical recognition, indigenous status and the dignity of the community.
“PBDS is appealing to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to make the matter a government priority, and ensure that the Madani administration’s principles of equality, inclusiveness and respect for diversity are translated into action,” he said.
