Sarawak 4 Sarawakians Chief Peter John Jaban stated this in a joint statement with the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia).
“The case of Rika Herline anak Ji-In, and two others in a similar situation, will be settled within one month,” said Jaban, a human rights advocate.
The choice, he conceded, was between settling the matter in court or outside.
Instead of waiting two years for an application to be processed by Putrajaya, he hoped to solve these cases within a month through the task force.
The Majlis Adat Istiadat, the guardians of Dayak customary law, must communicate with the National Registration Department (NRD) as well, added Jaban.
He said the setting up of the task force follows a meeting that Sarawak minister Fatimah Abdullah had with Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in Putrajaya on stateless people in the state.
“Fatimah has been empowered to take up the stateless issue and problems in obtaining the MyKad,” said Jaban.
The NRD must recognise marriages in Sarawak under Adat, he argued.
“It seems we have to hold further discussions with the Majlis Adat Istiadat as well.
“The recognition of Adat must be within the context of the NRD in Sarawak having autonomy.”
Giving other details on Rika’s case, the S4S chief said Sadia President Sidi Munan and lawyer Simon Siah had two days of discussions with the Sarawak Government on the Orang Asal’s stateless status.
Rika’s situation had forced her to quit schooling and sacrifice a promising career in sports.
Jaban urged all those saddled with the stateless problem in Sarawak or having problems in obtaining the MyKad to inform the nearest Sadia office or approach the NRD.
“Both the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 are our guiding principles,” said lawyer Siah.
“The spirit of both is very clear – anyone with one Malaysian parent is entitled to citizenship.”
Further, he said, the special position of the Orang Asal of Sabah and Sarawak under Adat and the constitutional documents, must be protected.
Under Adat, which has the force of law, argued Siah, stateless Orang Asal children deserve citizenship.