KUCHING: The Customs Department has been advised not to bring its “racism” into Sarawak by insisting that forwarders must have at least 51 percent “Bumiputera” participation before their licences can be renewed. The Department did not use the term Orang Asal which was generally used in Sarawak instead of Bumiputera.
Pending Assemblywoman Violet Yong, who had been alerted on the issue, called for the “illogical and racist rule” to be removed immediately. “It shows the ignorance of the Customs Department about Sarawak and how forwarding companies are run.”
“This is Sarawak. We don’t welcome bigots or your racist demands. We want policies which will help promote growth.”
She charged that the Customs Department, already battling the backlash from the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), was lacking in common sense and demanded that it get its “ugly rules out of Sarawak. Not everything has to be about race and religion.”
Given such a “stupid policy” what would the Federal Government think of tomorrow?
Who will they go after tomorrow? The legal firms, grocery shops, accounting firms, Chinese associations?
“It’s typical of a Federal Government department to come to Sarawak and try and impose racist regulations,” said Yong in debating the Governor’s address in the Sarawak Assembly. “They don’t think about bringing people together. Other countries place emphasis on qualification, not kulitfication (skin).”
“It’s sad that the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) Government divides people according to the colour of their skin even in Sarawak.”
Forwarding companies in Sarawak, she noted, are small outfits run by three or four people. Under the Customs Department ruling, they are expected to surrender control to a “Bumiputera”. “It’s impossible for such companies to get 51 per cent Bumiputera participation in the ownership, management and staffing,” said Yong.
If the ruling was to go ahead, she added, Bumiputera companies must also give up 51 per cent of their shares to non-Bumiputera. “If the Customs Department thinks that this is ridiculous, then do away with the 51 per cent Bumiputera ruling.”
Lawyers in the know say that even the Court will not interfere with the discretionary and management prerogatives of management.
