The indigenous people of Sabah have urged Putrajaya to remove the option of 'yang lain-lain' or 'others' on forms and want to be known simply as Malaysian.

In fact, Pangiran Salutan, a representative from the tribe of Lun Dayeh of Long Pasia, Sabah said everyone should just be known as Malaysian.

"There is no need for that option. Instead of having to tick Malay, Chinese, Indian or Others, the government should just put an option for 'Malaysian'," he said, after a cultural performance in Kuala Lumpur in conjunction with Malaysia Day.

Pangiran (right), also said that what many other indigenous people, or also known as 'orang asal’ want is to have the same rights as West Malaysians.

This includes the right to vote, which is now withheld from them as not all are registered with the national registration department.

"We want to be able to vote. Right now, we don't even have a representative to help us highlight the plight of my people and many other tribes," he lamented.

The four-city roadshow to showcase their culture has seen Pangiran and fellow villagers Lait Lakong and Ruth Baru travel hundreds of kilometres from the remote Long Pasia.

For the trio, this is their first time in the capital city.

"I am completely amazed and feel so proud that my country has achieved such amazing things," Pangiran said, adding that even though the differences are vast, he still feels proud of Malaysia.

'Equal rights'

One of the marked difference, said artist and singer Lait, 43 is that their village of about 600 in Long Pasia is still in dire need of electricity supply.

"We survive on generators. Our phone line are terrible and we have no asphalt roads.

"When we travel to the city of Sipitang, it will take us five to six hours because our roads are muddy, which usually causes the trucks to break down," he said.

Sipitang is also where the nearest hospital is located, 123 kilometres away.

"We are not asking for much, but just to be recognised as a part of Malaysia, with similar rights to education, healthcare, right to vote and the right to have proper infrastructure," said Lait to Malaysiakini.

A coordinator for Lights Up for Borneo, an NGO which organized the roadshow, said that the politicians must do they part in ensuring the indigenous people receive proper treatment.

"It seems though, that these politicians, on both sides of the spectrum only show their faces when it's voting season.

"After that, the indigenous people are forgotten. Promises are forgotten," he said.

He said many in the Lun Dayeh community do not even have birth certificates, and their applications for identity cards are still pending.

Long Pasia in Sipitang, Sabah is home to the tribe of Lun Dayeh or also known as Lun Bawang, who are predominantly Christian. 

Malaysia Day is held to commemorate the establishment of the Malaysian federation on Sept 16, 1963, which marks the joining of Malaya, Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore to form Malaysia.

The 'Yang Lain-lain' roadshow, which others feature artwork, handicrafts and cultural shows by the Lun Dayeh community, kicked off on Sept 7 and has made stops at Penang, Ipoh, Malacca and Kuala Lumpur.

The show will wrap up at Lost Generation Contemporary Art Space at Jalan Panggung, Kuala Lumpur on Sept 18.