I refer to the ongoing debate on Sarawak's immigration policies and would like to add my opinions as a Sarawakian from one of the indigenous tribes.

Though I disagree with Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud on a number of issues such as his dealings with native customary rights land, and timber and plantation concessions, I respect him for sticking to his guns on the issue of immigration controls into Sarawak. I am sure 99.99 percent of Sarawakians are extremely grateful to him for this.

When Sarawak agreed to join Malaysia in 1963, certain constitutional provisions were guaranteed to us and that included the autonomy of our state within the country. Over the years, we have seen many other rights taken from us, and we will fight to keep this one.

I want to point out that our concern about migrant workers is more than just a fear that Malaysians from the peninsula will take jobs away from us. It is much more than that. I dare say that most Sarawakians have mixed feelings about our place in Malaysia for many reasons. Some of these reasons were eloquently spelt out by Mohd Fawzi ('S'wak must keep immigration control', Nov 5). Other reasons are highly personal and emotional.

Most Sarawakians of whatever ethnicity could easily cite incidents of being looked down upon by their fellow countryfolk from the peninsula. Moreover, many Sarawakians have not forgotten the fact that 95 percent of the petroleum and gas revenues from Sarawak goes to the coffer of Petronas. According to Prof Jomo KS in one malaysiakini article, it is Petronas funds that were used to build the Petronas Twin Towers, the KLIA, and other mega-projects on the peninsula. At the same time, we are enraged with the devastation of culture, land and way of life that resulted from the Bakun project, another federal government mega-project.

Sarawakians are a minority in Malaysia. Sarawak is about the same size as the peninsula, yet has less than 10 percent of the population. Even with immigration controls, we are at risk of losing our identity. Whose language most resemble the Bahasa Malaysia that all pupils need to master in school? Certainly, not Sarawak Malay, nor Iban, nor Penan.

All Sarawakians were forced to learn about Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat in school, but how many Malaysians from the peninsula have heard about the Iban comic legend, Apai Saloi or the Kayan version of Hercules, Lake' Belawan? You see, total national integration is not necessarily a good thing for minorities. You as the majority gain; we lose out.

Sarawakians need to keep what our ancestors have fought to protect and have passed down to us - our land. Land is wealth, and our land is our very life. We don't need to look far to see the devastating effects immigration can do to a province. The violent clashes between indigenous populations and immigrants in Kalimantan and the Spice Islands should warn all Malaysians what could happen to Sarawak if we let Malaysians from different states to emigrate here.

I also want to point out that Sarawak has a very different history and has different cultures, customs and languages from those of Peninsular Malaysia. Even our colonial experience was different. There is really no majority ethnic group or religion: over 30 percent Ibans, 20 percent Malays, 25 percent Chinese, and Melanau, Bidayuh, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, Murut, Kedayan and others make up the rest.

Religion is not divided along racial lines as in the peninsula. For example, the Melanau (of which our chief minister is a member) are Muslims, Catholics, Anglicans, or animists and get along very well as one ethnic group. We don't seem to have the serious religious and political intolerance as in the peninsula.

We would like to maintain our own unique brand of politics, racial and religious make-up. An influx of immigrants from the peninsula (or from any other place) would upset the balance and harmony among the different parties, races and religious groups.

Lastly, I would like to quote Rajah Sir Charles Brooke, the second "white rajah", as he addressed the Sarawak state council in the late 1800s. "Has it ever occurred to you that after my time out here others may appear with soft and smiling countenances, to deprive you of what is solemnly yours, and that is, the very land on which you live, the source of your income, the food even of your mouths? If this is once lost to you, no amount of money could recover it. Unless you follow this advice, you will lose your birthright, which will be taken from you by strangers and speculators who will, in their turn, become masters and owners whilst you yourselves, you people of the soil, will be thrown aside and become nothing but coolies and outcasts of the island."

I love Malaysia, but let us keep Sarawak beautiful.