100% support Pairin call to replace "lain-lain" in govt forms

By Ezra Haganez

PENAMPANG: Almost everybody in the community of Kadazandusun and Murut supported the call made by Huguan Siou Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan to do away with the "lain-lain" or "others" column in the race section of government forms.

Senior vice president of KDCA (Kadazandusun Cultural Association), George Mijin, said such conclusion could be deduced from feedbacks and an already agitated community as a result of the thoughtless introduction of "bangsa lain-lain" in government forms a couple of years ago, leaving out the ethnic groups in Borneo, retaining only three races - Malay, Chinese and Indian.

"We fully support our Huguan Siou in calling for Sabahans, not categorised under the three races, to just cancel the "lain-lain" and write down their respective races such as Kadazandusun, Murut, Bajau and so on.

"The Kadazandusun and Murut ethnic should feel proud and happy because our Huguan Siou made the most correct response and has dealt with the prolonging issue head on and decisively," Mijin said in a statement here today.

Pairin made such comment yesterday following up earlier statement by Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem that the Federal had agreed to Sarawak's request to undo the "lain-lain" in government forms and instead leave a space there for people to write down their respective races when filling up forms.

According to Mijin, undoing the "lain-lain" and having the right space to stand side by side with other races in the Peninsular is a due recognition to Borneo people especially the natives who formed the majority in the population.

"We are grateful to the Federal leadership and our leaders for having once again recognised our integral position in the Federation. Nothing is too late in doing good, and in this premise, we look forward to many more correct steps to be taken vis-a-vis Borneo unique position..." he added.