Sarawak’s Chief Minister Adenan Satem should use his claimed good relationship with the federal government to reduce the number of West Malaysians working as heads and deputy heads of federal departments in Sarawak.

 

“If Adenan is serious about protecting Sarawak’s interests, he should take immediate steps to reduce the number of West Malaysians holding such high positions in government departments and agencies in Sarawak.         

 

“I am sure the number of Sarawakians holding such high positions in federal government departments and agencies in West Malaysia is so negligible as to be almost non-existent,” state DAP chairperson Chong Chieng Jen ( right ) said at a recent news conference in Kuching.

 

Chong, the MP for Bandar Kuching, said he was basing his call on the answer provided to his parliamentary question to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Shahidan Kassim last July on the actual number of Sarawakians heading federal departments and agencies in Sarawak.

 

In his written answer, the minister was there were a total of 103 positions of heads of federal government departments and agencies in Sarawak, out of which 64 were held by Sarawakians, three by Sabahans and 36 by West Malaysians. Of the 36 West Malaysians, 35 were Malays and one was Chinese, Shahidan replied.

 

With regard to the deputy heads of federal departments or agencies, the answer indicated there were a total of 111 positions. Of these, 76 were held by Sarawakians, four by Sabahans and 31 by West Malaysians. Of these 31 West Malaysians, 30 were Malays and one ‘others’.

 

Situation 'is appalling'

 

The answer also showed that in terms of racial breakdown, the 103 heads of federal departments and agencies in Sarawak comprised 65 Malays, 12 Iban, 11 Chinese, eight Bidayuh, three Melanau, one Kayan, one Kelabit, one Kadazan and one Dusun.

 

Out of the 111 deputy heads, 68 were Malays, 13 Iban, 13 Chinese, seven Bidayuh, three Melanau, one Kadayan, one Bisaya, one Kadazan, one Suluk and one ‘others’.

 

“DAP urges Chief Minister Adenan Satem ( left ) to walk the talk in the protection of the interests of Sarawakians by starting with the appointments of Sarawakians as heads and deputy heads in all government agencies in the state.

 

‘The current situation is appalling. It indicates that the principle of Borneonisation, which is one of the fundamental principles in the Malaysia Agreement, has been undermined by the federal government,” Chong said.

 

Chong, who is also the Kota Sentosa assemblyperson, said the two areas that needed to be redressed were the high proportion of West Malaysians holding government high posts in Sarawak and the appointment of Sarawakians to such posts not in accordance with the state’s racial composition.

 

“The head and deputy head positions of government departments and agencies in Sarawak should be reserved for Sarawakians because it gives more career opportunities to the ordinary Sarawakians in our own land."

 

Dayaks marginalised

 

“More importantly, the heads and deputy heads are the real agents for government policies,” he said, pointing out that most West Malaysians were not familiar with Sarawak’s local conditions and thus would not be able to implement government policies in the manner that most suited the local environment.

 

Secondly, in all fairness, the racial composition of the heads and deputy heads of federal government departments and agencies in Sarawak should reflect the racial composition of the population of Sarawak, Chong said.

 

“It is most unfair that, the Dayak, comprising more than 40 percent of the population of Sarawak, only hold 21 percent of the head and deputy head posts in government departments and agencies in Sarawak,” he said in urging Adenan to start a fairer appointment policy for all races in Sarawak-based government offices.