Sarawak PKR said that the abolishment of the use of "lain-lain" in official forms may not hold legal merit unless it is backed by an amendment in the federal constitution.

"We welcome the announcement, but the federal constitution remains the same. It is crucial that you amend both the state and federal constitutions," PKR state leader Baru Bian told reporters in Kuching today.

"Will it be legally binding? I mean if you just go and cancel the word 'lain-lain' on the form and put your race, does that resolve the matter legitimately? I think this is all for political mileage," he said.

On Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Sarawak bumiputera will no longer be categorised as 'lain-lain' (others) in official forms .

Zahid announced the decision during a government-funded meet-the-people gathering attended by Chief Minister Adenan Satem in Kota Samarahan.

Zahid, who is also home minister, said the cabinet has approved with immediate effect for applicants to cancel out the word, and enter their respective ethnicity.

The opposition party has for some years campaigned for the removal of the word, translated as 'others', from government forms.

In government forms, major ethnic groups such as Malay, Chinese and Indian are identified, but over 37 ethnic groups native to Sarawak are categorised, along with natives in Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia, as 'others'.

"The issue is very important for the natives of Sarawak. It recognises our culture and customs. The natives of Sarawak would like to be classified into a term that we are comfortable with, which would uniquely identify us as a native, or orang asal of Borneo,” Baru said.

“Identity is important, and ours (Sarawakian natives) have become public knowledge, so we might as well make it truly legal and legitimise the whole thing.”

"'Lain-lain' has no definition in law; therefore, it can be anybody. in fact, it can be quite derogatory. Lain-lain means others. You are not even significant. You are not important, you are just lain-lain. But if you can name other races, why can't you name (the natives)," Baru said.