The Parti Bangsa Malaysia president said the ancestors of many Sarawakian Chinese lived in the Bornean state from about 150 years ago, and that they and their families had stayed in Sarawak.

“In view of Sarawak’s uniqueness in racial composition, religious diversity and autonomy in certain areas, by being a region and not a state, perhaps Sarawak’s leaders should consider granting Bumiputera status to Sarawakians of Chinese descent.

“The overwhelming majority of them were born in this country and had served, fought, sacrificed and contributed immensely to the economic wellbeing of the state.

“This is something I hope the state government will consider and legislate into law for the benefit of the state and all its people,” he said in a Facebook post.

Sng, the former Sarawak PKR chief, added that one of his staff members who has mixed Chinese and Orang Ulu parentage was finally granted Bumiputera status today, after 48 years of waiting.