Bumiputra minority groups, Sarawak's Dayaks and Sabah's Kadazandusuns who make up the majority groups in the two states, have welcomed the federal governments's move to recognise their position as distinct from that of the Malays and other bumiputra Muslims.

There has been quiet celebration and jubilation among the two states' non-Muslim bumiputra groups since given the government recognition of their status as 'bumiputra minorities' which means more benefits to them through various programmes to improve their social and economic well-being.

Although government leaders have never acknowledged it, the recent decision to recognise the Dayaks (which includes the Iban, Bidayuh, Kayan and Kenyah, among others) and the Kadazadusuns as bumiputra minorities means that they will no longer be lumped as a single bumiputra group, as in the past, when formulating and implementing policies and strategies aimed at addressing economic and equity issues.

This move has been clearly spelt out in the Third Outline Perspective Plan (OPP3) and the Eighth Malaysian Plan (8MP).

The Dayaks and Kadazandusuns expect to advance socially and economically at a quicker pace through their status as bumiputra minorities.

Workshop

More than 500 participants from the two bumiputra minority groups will gather in Kuala Lumpur on April 4 and 5 to share their thoughts and ideas on how they themselves could complement government policies for their advancement and benefit to enjoy a more equitable distribution of the country's wealth.

They comprise intellectuals, academicians, community and political leaders of the Dayak and Kadazandusun-Murut communities. Their discussion will focus on poverty and equity issues which are of paramount importance to bumiputra minorities in Sarawak and Sabah.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad will deliver a keynote address at the dinner gathering tomorrow at the Renaissance Hotel.

Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Multimedia Leo Moggie, who is also Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak president, and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Bernard Dompok, who is also president of Upko, a Kadazandusun-based party, have led the initiative in organising the workshop on OPP3 and 8MP.

Moggie will speak at the launching in conjunction with the dinner reception, which the Prime Minister's Department is hosting. His cabinet colleague Bernard Dompok will speak at the closing of the workshop.

It is understood that Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud has also been invited to the official launch of the one-day workshop which is jointly organised by the newly-established Sarawak Dayak Graduates and the Institute of Indigenous Economic Progress (Indep), Sabah.

Important dimension

According to Prof Dr Dimbab Ngidang, who is the OPP3 and 8MP workshop vice-chairman, the historic gathering of the indigenous communities "marks the first time that the federal government has stated with no uncertain terms that these communities are now being recognised as the bumiputra minorities in Sarawak and Sabah in OPP3".

"This recognition gives a new and a very important dimension of the New Vision Policy under the OPP3 which attempts to address equity redistribution and pockets of poverty in remote areas and among Orang Asli and the disadvantaged indigenous communities in Sarawak and Sabah," he said.

A number of papers will be presented on policies, strategies and programmes to restructure society and eradicate poverty under OPP3 and 8MP.

Pay-back time

A political scientist with a local university, who asked not be identified, said the recognition of the two non-Muslim indigenous groups in Sarawak and Sabah is Mahathir's way of thanking them for their strong political support for his Barisan Nasional government.

The prime minister views the goal of national integration as something that can perhaps only be pursued by giving the indigenous groups greater benefits from a more equitable distribution of wealth.

The political scientist told malaysiakini that Mahathir is perhaps not unaware of a recent study conducted at the tertiary level indicating that much of the resources of the two states go to the federal government.

"He probably feels that more of this should be ploughed back to the two states," he added.