KUCHING – The government has been asked to standardise the definition of bumiputra in the country to avoid ambiguity and discrimination.

The Sarawak Women for Women Society said this would mean amending Article 161A of the Federal Constitution so that it is in line with the definition adopted in the peninsula, which states that bumiputra status is passed on either by  the father or  the mother.

In Sarawak, both parents have to be bumiputra in order for their offspring to qualify for such status.

Fair go for all

A uniform policy would be aligned with the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women to which Malaysia is a signatory to, said the society’s president, Margaret Bedus, here on Tuesday.

“Now that Article 161A is under the spotlight, it is an opportunity for the country to show its progressive approach to equality of the sexes.”

In fact, all indigenous races should be recognised under the (amended) article, she said in response to controversy surrounding the Marina Undau case.

Anger festers

The Iban-Chinese schoolgirl and other students of mixed parentage like her were thrust into the media limelight last month when the Education Ministry rejected their applications to enrol in a pre-university programme because it said they were not bumiputra.

A foundation and a private college came to the aid of Marina and two other students. But for many other Sarawakians of mixed parentage, current government policy remained a road block in their pursuit of higher education.