Govt forms to have column for Dayak soon — Entulu

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SIBU: Government official forms incorporating the word ‘Dayak in the race column are expected to be in use very soon.

This was revealed by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun, who said the decision was made at the Federal Cabinet meeting on Friday which was chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“Once the Cabinet minute is out, the state government will be informed in writing to immediately make the necessary implementation.

“I hope it can be implemented within the next few months,” Entulu told The Borneo Post yesterday.

The Selangau MP disclosed that the new classification would be implemented in Sarawak first as the case was less complicated than in Sabah.

He said government official forms from then onwards will have a column for Malay, Chinese, Indian and Dayak as well as ‘Kaum-Kaum Lain’.

Giving an illustration, he said a Dayak can indicate if he is Iban or Bidayuh in the Dayak column, if he so wishes.

As for ‘Kaum-Kaum Lain’ column, he added, it is for those who do not wish to be categorised under any of the specified terms.

“This was the decision by Bumiputera Minority Technical Committee and endorsed by the Federal Cabinet.”

He said the delay was due to Sabah being rather slow in deciding the term to be used.

Last October, the word ‘Dayak’ was approved by the Federal Cabinet to denote the race of non-Malay Bumiputeras in government official forms.