Kuching: A total of 5,790 applications for recognition as Sarawak Bumiputera have been received and considered by the Sarawak Bumiputera Recognition Committee (JPBS), said Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department Datuk Seri John Sikie Tayai. He reported that out of these, 5,186 applications were approved, with 1,835 applicants recognized as Iban, 1,718 as Bidayuh, 601 as Malay, and 336 as Melanau.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, 199 applicants were recognized as Murut or Lun Bawang, 146 as Kenyah, 144 as Kayan, with the remainder coming from other communities. Since January 1, all applications for recognition as Sarawak Bumiputera have been processed online through the Sarawak Native Recognition Application System (SARAS). The system was upgraded on June 26 with an eligibility check function to ensure that only applications meeting the requirements are processed and submitted to JPBS for consideration.

The Sarawak State Assembly passed the Interpretation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, on February 15, which amended the Interpretation Ordinance, 2005 to include children born from mixed marriages as Bumiputera, even if only one parent is a Sarawakian.

Touching on the state waters, Sikie highlighted that the Sarawak Coastguard (SC) has carried out 158 operations this year to safeguard Sarawak's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). These operations involved enforcing maritime laws, monitoring encroachment activities, and ensuring the safety of fishing communities. SC currently operates 12 vessels for patrol, enforcement, and search-and-rescue operations, with three additional vessels in the acquisition process.