In 1990s, the Melanau tribes started to sense the malayanization process. This is due to the decreasing population of the Melanau people where an investigation has been made to find the root of the problem.
From the investigation, it was believed that the process of Malayanization has been going on for 10 years started in early 1980s where certain attempt through the national registration department has changed the identity of Melanau people to Melayu during the registration of the birth.
To cope with this problem, melanau people started to create their own association by establishing small branches such as at district level and then they reunite the association with another melanau association to form the Federation of Melanau Association lead by Melanau Intellactual & Professionals of the State level (Sarawak as a Country) within the Federation of Malaysia which took about 15 years to success.
Melanau unite among themselves due to the awareness of the importance of protecting their own identity and culture from being stereotyped as Malay (Malaya) which is against their true identity as one of the indigenous tribes in Sarawak.
Through this awareness, it helps to create the awareness to other indigenous tribes and helps them to protect and prevent their race from being turn into Malayanization attempts by the Federal Government for political purpose. From that moment, Sarawak is able to prevent UMNO inclusion to Sarawak until now.
By Abdul Halim Hamdian.
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