About 600 Orang Ulu, mainly Kenyah living along the Bakun-Bintulu road in central Sarawak, fear being mistaken for foreigners because they do not have identity cards or other official identification papers.

Sem Kiong Angin, the Bintulu-based head of the Indigenous People Development Centre (IPDC), said the group is distributed around Kampung Batu 14, Kampung Batu16, Data Kakus and Long Busan.

He said they also face difficulty because they are not able to open bank accounts or contribute to the Employees Provident Fund and Socso if they are employed.

"They cannot get government subsidies to open pepper and cocoa farms and cannot benefit at all from many more government facilities. Their children cannot pursue higher studies or qualify for a government job even if they pass their SPM examination," he said.

Some in Long Busang have been given temporary identity cards, but still face problems in dealing with the authorities in places like hospitals, clinics, schools and government agencies.

Long-time connection

Their headman TR Asang Jok said those concerned have been living in Malaysia for more than three decades after moving from the Indonesian Kalimantan border and working for timber companies over the years.

"They should have been given citizenship already, like some Indonesians and Filipinos in Sabah," he said.

"In Sarawak, some Bugis Indonesians have been issued identity cards. There is no reason why the Kenyahs here should not get similar treatment."

Sem said the loyalty of the Kenyah to Malaysia is not to be doubted.

"They have worked in the oil palm and timber industries for many years, contributing in one way or other to the nation's wealth," he said.

"They'll never go back to Indonesia .This is their home now. They have not even been included in the Indonesian government's popoulation census."

Sem said many of those concerned have applied for an identity card, but that only a few have received one. He appealed to the government to solve the problem quickly.