Sabah Sarawak Union - United Kingdom

KUCHING: Independence is always an option if Putrajaya refuses to return Sarawak’s rights, Sarawak Association for Peoples’ Aspiration (Sapa) president Dominique Ng said.

“We are not just talking about the 20% oil royalty. We are talking about taking back everything that is rightfully ours,” he said after the Sarawak’s independence day celebration at Kuching’s Central Padang today.

Ng said many Sarawakians, including the youths, have started to realise the importance for Sarawak to have its say in running its affairs.

“We are not trying to be seditious. We are talking about gaining our freedom, which is supported by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1514 (Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples).

“Sarawak was guaranteed self governance under article 8 of the 9th Cardinal Principles by the last Rajah Sarawak in 1946.

“This is a constitutional right granted by our last Rajah,” he said, adding that Sarawak has been known to be a sovereign country for 100 years.

However, Ng said Sabah and Sarawak have been “downgraded” to the 12th and 13th states in Malaysia.

He said the “colonial masters were changed on Sept 16 from Great Britain to the Federation of Malaya”.

“This is a sad reality which many people had failed to understand,” he said.

Earlier, Ng thanked the Sarawak government for approving its application to hold the event at the Central Padang.

“This is the first time that they have granted Sapa a permit to organise Sarawak’s independence day.

“Today’s event has been a tremendous success even though it was raining since early morning,” he said.

The event, attended by hundreds of supporters, was jointly organised by Sapa, the Dayak National Congress, Solidariti Anak Sarawak and Sarawak for Sarawakians.

The activities included the singing of Sarawak’s anthem, “Fairland Sarawak”, followed by the raising of the Sarawak flag.

There were also a tug-of-war contest, poem recital and release of balloons.

Source: Free Malaysia Today

Initially, we welcomed the Government's intention to amend the Constitution. However, when the blue Bill was tabled in Dewan Rakyat, we realised that it was only politics and not really to “give” what Sarawak and Sabah had wanted.

From there, we, the GPS MPs, then split our roles. Dato' Sri Haji Fadillah and Dato’ Sri Nancy had two engagements with the De Facto Law Minister, Datuk Vickie Liew to amend the Bill while I prepared for the referral of the Bill to the Select Committee.

We had several consultations with our lawyers at the Sarawak Attorney Chambers for the draft of the amendment. The GPS MPs continued our internal discussions and division of work. Dato' Sri Tiong and Dato' Sri Fadillah went to engage our MP friends to explain our position and stand.

To continue to engage with the Law Minister for the following steps:

1. To withdraw the Bill and to study the Constitution for a greater amendment on some of the inconsistencies in the Constitution; for example, the interpretation of “Federation” in Article 160(2) which refers to the Federation established under the Federation of Malaya Agreement. Therefore, to our considered opinion, the hundred of Federation appeared in the Federal Constitution is about the States in Malaya. While Sarawak and Sabah are NOT part of the Federation of Malaysia! So, we want that word “Federation” to be redefined to refer to the Malaysia Agreement of 1963. Secondly, to realise the spirit of “equal partnership”, based on the MA63, we suggested that the Amendment of Article 1(2) of the Constitution include the words “... Pursuant to Malaysia Agreement 1963...” not just putting Sarawak and Sabah into group (b) States in the Federation of Malaysia. So all of the GPS MPs agreed that the amendment was not well considered and that the opinion of Sarawak and Sabah were never consulted and considered.

2. Then on 9 April 2019, after Dato' Sri Fadillah and my discussions with the Minister of Law, the minister expressed his reservation on the inclusion of MA63 in the Article 1(2) amendment which we proposed, but he wanted to consult the Federal Attorney General and get the consent of the Prime Minister. By 2.15 pm, the Government's new amendment Bill was distributed on the tables of MPs in the Dewan. This time purportedly to reinstate to the previous wording of Article 1(2) to pre-1976. Still, there is no reference to the Malaysia Agreement of 1963. From this, we could see that they do not want the spirit of MA63 to be in the Constitution. And again, we discussed among ourselves on our stand. I said, “We all agree to stand, advised by Kuching and the Chief Minister on our next course of action”. We maintained this stand to the end, and advised our colleagues in Barisan Nasional, PAS and the Sabah MPs who are not in PH government.

3. All the strategy in the Dewan was given to me, and all the GPS MPs were advised to see my action and reaction. We discussed among ourselves with Dato' Sri Fadillah, Dato' Sri Tiong and the others, as we continuously discuss on our stand and action.

4. Our stand to refer the Bill to the Special Select Committee of Parliament continued. I was to table the motion after the Second Reading. From the explanation made by the PM who tabled the Bill, and the amendment Bill. His explanation on Article 160(2) was really mind-boggling - it seems there are “two” meanings to the word Federation in the Federal Constitution. One refers to the Federation of Malaya established under Agreement 1957, and indeed there is another for the Federation of Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah. However, there is no explanation when either one is to be used. The answers to the questions posed by the Opposition Leader - Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri of Barisan Nasional on this interpretation during the winding up was far from satisfactory.

5. I stood up under Rule 54(2) of the Rules of Dewan Rakyat for the Bill to be referred to the Special Select Committee of Parliament after the winding up. We lost on the “Division” but sent a strong message that we GPS MPs could not be part of another mistake in Dewan Rakyat. The failure of the government to treat the importance of Malaysia Agreement 1963 to Sarawakian and the need to put the establishment of the Federation of Malaysia is by the Agreement of 1963 and not the Malayan Agreement of 1957.

5. It was the fault of the Federal Government not to appreciate the importance of MA63 to us Sarawakian and to put the Agreement in the Federal Constitution to reflect its significance. We intend to amend Article 1(2) and to put the spirit of MA63 for posterity in the most important document in the country - the Federal Constitution.

The PH government lost that opportunity in making their first step which we in GPS believe should be the first right step, not the first wrong step again.

6. That was why we did not oppose the voting in the Dewan because there was a good intention to amend; albeit wrong, so we GPS MPs decided to abstain from making a similar mistake yet again.

Dato Sri Dr Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar

Member of Parliament Malaysia P193 Santubong

10 April 2019

Source: Dato Sri Dr Haji Wan Junaidi Bin Tuanku Jaafar Page Facebook

KUCHING: Ahli Parlimen Batang Sadong, Nancy Shukri berkata Rang Undang-undang Perlembagaan Persekutuan (Pindaan) 2019 pasti lulus di Parlimen jika kerajaan memberikan masa kepada pimpinan Sabah dan Sarawak membincangkan perkara itu.

Beliau berkata pemimpin kedua-dua negeri sudah meminta Menteri Undang-undang Liew Vui Keong menangguhkan pindaan itu kerana mereka mahu ia jadi lebih menyeluruh.

“Kami mahu ia dibawa kepada jawatankuasa pemilih Parlimen kerana ia memberi peluang kepada pemegang taruh dari Sabah, Sarawak dan Tanah Melayu untuk duduk bersama dan pertimbangkan RUU itu,” katanya kepada FMT.

Beliau berkata Liew sepatutnya mengambil kira seruan mereka kerana meminda Perlembagaan Persekutuan perlukan majoriti 2/3.

“Kami benar-benar mahu RUU itu diluluskan tetapi ia mestilah memasukkan cadangan kami, agar selaras dengan Perjanjian Malaysia 1963 (MA63).

“Tetapi mereka hanya memikirkan kepentingan sendiri.

“Kami tak kata kami tidak akan sokong RUU itu,” katanya kepada FMT.

Usul kerajaan tewas di Dewan Rakyat malam tadi apabila pemerintah hanya mendapat 138 undi, kurang 10 undi daripada majoriti 2/3 yang diperlukan.

Seramai 59 ahli Parlimen berkecuali.

Nancy berkata pindaan pada Perkara 1(2) Perlembagaan mesti bersama pindaan pada Perkara 160(2) mengenai takrif “persekutuan”.

“Sekadar memulihkan kedudukan negeri tidak bermakna apa-apa. Ia seperti mengangkat seseorang ke kedudukan lebih tinggi dengan kuasa yang terhad,” katanya.

Nancy menuduh Liew tergesa-gesa membuat pindaan itu tanpa mengikut tatacara yang betul.

“Dia ingat dia boleh beli sokongan kami dengan makan tengah hari dan makan malam. Ini urusan yang serius. Kita bercakap mengenai pindaan pada Perlembagaan Persekutuan.

“Jika dia ada perkara serius yang mahu dibincangkan dengan kami, kita lakukan di Parlimen. Kita tak berpeluang kerana dia hanya mahu beritahu apa yang dia mahu lakukan, dan itu bukan pendekatan yang betul.”

Bagaimanapun, dengan pindaan itu atau tanpanya, Sabah dan Sarawak masih boleh tuntut hak-haknya dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan, katanya.

Sarawak lebih berminat untuk menuntut hak-haknya dan perolehan lebih banyak untuk pembangunan rakyat dan negeri.

“Kalau Sabah tak berminat, kami berminat untuk melakukannya. Kita tak main politik dan saya berbangga kita teguh mempertahankan kepentingan rakyat Sarawak.”

Presiden SUPP, Dr Sim Kui Hian bersetuju dengan Nancy dan berkata RUU yang tewas itu akibat tidak pedulikan tuntutan Sarawak yang juga mahu takrif “persekutuan” dalam Perkara 160 dipinda.

Sim dalam kenyataan berkata GPS tidak menentang RUU itu dan mahu semua isu berkaitan hak-hak Sabah dan Sarawak diselsaikan, termasuk diberi sepertiga perwakilan di Parlimen dan 1/3 daripada sumber dan hasil negara.

Beliau mendakwa Ahli Parlimen Stampin, Chong Chieng Jen sangat mengecewakan rakyat Sarawak apabila bersetuju dengan perubahan “kosmetik” pada RUU itu, dan mengabaikan kegagalan kerajaan menyatakan MA63 di dalamnya.

Adun Mulu, Gerawat Gala menyuarakan sentimen yang sama dan berkata RUU itu harus dibentang semula dalam masa terdekat.

“Pindaan itu hanya ‘kosmetik’. Ada perkara yang lebih penting untuk diselesaikan.”

Beliau berkata kerajaan harus berunding semula dengan pemegang-pemegang taruh Sabah dan Sarawak dan meminda undang-undang asas yang lain, terutama Perkara 160(2) Perlembagaan.

Sumber: Free Malaysia Today

PETALING JAYA: A leading Barisan Nasional component in Sarawak has apologised for having supported the amendment to the Federal Constitution in 1976 that led to the downgrading of the state from its previous sovereign status.

Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Secretary-General Sebastian Ting Chew Yew admitted that his party had not objected, and had helped to pass the amendment which essentially reduced Sarawak from its 1963 status as a founding partner to the peninsula-based government, to simply being one of 13 states in Malaysia, The Borneo Post reported Thursday.

“The present leadership accepts this responsibility and, on behalf of the party, I would like to apologise to party members and the people of Sarawak as a whole,” Ting said in a statement released by the party Wednesday.

The amendment to Article 1 of the Federal Constitution in 1976 through Act A354, saw Sarawak downgraded from Region 2 in the Federation of Malaysia, to being one of 13 states in Malaysia.

“It is the most critical and fundamental ‘discrepancy’ found in the Federal Constitution.

“This is because, as a result, it has tremendously curtailed the disbursement of federal funds for Sarawak and Sabah to a level of state, rather than two of the three founding partners.

“In other words, both Sarawak and Sabah have been short-changed in financial allocations from the Federal Government,” Ting said in the statement.

He expressed his party’s support for Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem’s call to amend Article 1 of the Federal Constitution in Parliament to its original wording.

Ting also supported Deputy Chief Minister Dr James Masing’s call for all MPs from Sarawak and Sabah to put aside party allegiances and political differences in order to get the Federal Constitution amended to restore the constitutional position of both Sarawak and Sabah in the Federation of Malaysia.

“According to Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), there shall be no confusion that the Federation of Malaysia is a federation of nations, unlike the former Federation of Malaya which was a unitary state system with the centralisation of governing powers,” he said, referring to the agreement as an association of equal partners which combines each other’s strengths and resources with each individuality retained.

Ting added that the Sarawak government now wanted to use the Cobbold Commission, Inter-Governmental Committee, MA63 and the Malaysia Act 1963, that could not be altered or overridden by any act of Parliament, in order to claim the rights and entitlements which belonged to Sarawak with the signing of the MA63.

SUPP currently has one MP, Richard Riot, who is also minister of human resources, and seven state assemblymen, in the PBB-led BN coalition government.

The SUPP statement also came out strongly in criticising Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UMP) lecturer Professor Ramlah Adam over her presentation at a seminar entitled “A Journey To Merdeka: Sarawak in Malaysia” last Sunday.

“She appears not to understand that Sarawak is not a state like any of the other states in the peninsula but as a founding equal partner to the Federation of Malaya, which originally comprised 11 states.

“Most people would not know that her (Ramlah’s) own state was not a signatory to the Malaysia Agreement, and as such, not invited to the negotiation table to set up the new nation in 1963. So how can Perlis be on equal status with Sarawak?” Ting asked.

Source: Free Malaysia Today

KUCHING: Kerajaan Sarawak berhasrat untuk mengembalikan status Sarawak kepada kedudukan asal sebelum pindaan Perlembagaan dilakukan pada 1976 dan meminta Putrajaya mempertimbangkan negeri itu setaraf dengan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu kerana ia merupakan satu daripada pihak yang memetrai Perjanjian Malaysia 53 tahun lalu.

Ketua Menteri Tan Sri Adenan Satem berkata, Sarawak bukan hanya satu daripada 14 negeri dan wilayah kerana di bawah Perlembagaan asal Persekutuan, dimaktubkan bahawa Persekutuan Malaysia terdiri daripada semua negeri di Persekutuan Tanah Melayu, negeri Sabah dan Sarawak di Borneo dan Singapura.

“Selepas pindaan pada 1976, Sarawak menjadi satu daripada 14 negeri di Malaysia,” kata Adenan kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Seminar Sejarah Sarawak yang mengupas tajuk berkaitan dengan pembentukan Malaysia.

Pindaan itu menurut beliau telah menyebabkan kuasa Sarawak terhakis, justeru beliau mahu mengembalikan hak dan kedudukan Sarawak kepada keadaan asal.

Adenan turut menghujahkan bahawa pindaan berkenaan adalah tidak sah dan batal kerana melanggar Perjanjian Malaysia, Laporan Jawatankuasa Antara Kerajaan dan Laporan Suruhanjaya Cobbold.

Ujarnya, Sarawak ialah satu daripada pihak yang tandatangani Perjanjian Malaysia pada 1963, dan dengan itu punya taraf sama.

Terdahulu, dalam ucapannya Ketua Menteri yang dengan tegas telah menuntut hak dan autonomi Sarawak sejak mengambil alih kepemimpinan pada 2015 berkata, Sarawak bukan satu daripada negeri dalam Persekutuan pada 1963 tetap negeri pengasas dan terdapat perbezaan antara negeri pengasas dengan kedudukan negeri dalam Persekutuan Tanah Melayu.

“Kemungkinan itu ialah kesilapan kita kerana tidak menentang pindaan pada 1976,” katanya sambil menambah beliau tidak mahu menyalahkan sesiapa dalam kes itu.

Sementara itu, Profesor Datin Paduka Ramlah Adam berkata isu berkaitan Perjanjian 18/20 Perkara telah diserapkan dalam Perlembagaan dan ketika Malaysia dibentuk negeri persekutuan telah kehilangan nama asal, Persekutuan Tanah Melayu yang disifatkannya sebagai satu pengorbanan.

Source: Sarawak Voice

Saya pasti semua rakyat Sarawak termasuk wakil-wakil rakyat di Parlimen Malaysia dan Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak gembira dan teruja dengan perjuangan Tok Nan untuk mengembalikan hak-hak Sarawak yang terhakis akibat kehendak-kehendak Malaysia Agreement 1963 dan pandangan-pandangan Inter Government Committee tidak dipenuhi sepenuhnya sejak merdeka.

Kandungan-kandungan dokumen penting penubuhan Malaysia ini wajar diteliti selalu.

Bahkan dinyatakan ia perlu disemak setiap 10 tahun. Nampaknya ia hanya pernah disemak sekali sahaja sekitar tahun 1974. Selepas itu diam membisu hilang dari radar rakyat sedangkan Malaysia sudah terbentuk lebih 50 tahun.

Oleh itu, bagi menjadikan perjuangan Tok Nan ini tercapai, sokongan dan usaha terbuka perlu dilakukan tanpa menafikan wujud usaha serius di peringkat pimpinan utama negara. Hal ini perlu dilakukan agar proses ini berjalan lancar tanpa sebarang gangguan dan salah sangka.

Namun begitu, beberapa persoalan utama timbul bagi memenuhi keperluan membetulkan kembali kedudukan Sarawak dalam Persekutuan Malaysia yang perlu diambil kira;

1. Sekiranya pindaan perlembagaan 1976 yang menurunkan taraf Sarawak itu telah berlaku 40 tahun lalu adalah sah di Parlimen, apakah pindaan itu pernah dibawa untuk pengesahan Dewan Undangan negeri Sarawak?

2. Jika ya dan diterima maka pindaan itu sah. Jika tidak maka jelas pindaan itu bertentangan dengan MA1963 yang merupakan International Treaty yang mempunyai peraturan tersendiri.

3. Jika ia pernah diterima oleh DUN Sarawak, maka DUN yang sama perlu bertindak menolaknya kembali dengan usul yang baharu dikemukakan.

4. Jika pindaan itu tidak pernah dibawa ke DUN Sarawak maka anggota Parlimen perlu mencadangkan pindaan pembatalan terhadap Artikel Perlembagaan yang jelas bertentangan dengan MA1963 yang tidak boleh diubah suai tanpa persetujuan pihak pihak yang terlibat dengan perjanjian itu.

Inilah yang dibangkitkan oleh Tok Nan yang perlu disokong dan diperjuangkan.

Sekarang terserah kepada kebijaksanaan Ahli Ahli Parlimen dan Dewan Undangan Negeri untuk menilai perkara ini dan “tindakan” selanjutnya.

Kalaulah pihak di Malaya sedang sibuk dengan pindaan RUU355 yang hangat diperkatakan sejak sidang Parlimen yang lalu, maka sewajarnya pihak di Sarawak – sebagai memenuhi kehendak rakyat dan perjuangan Tok Nan – hendaklah ada inisiatif untuk membetulkan keadaan hakisan kuasa negara Sarawak yang telah berlaku sejak 1976.

Sejarah akan mencatatkan langkah ini dan zuriat keturunan kita yang akan mendapat kesannya. Yang dinilai adalah tindakan kita.

* YB Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya adalah Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri kawasan Jemoreng

Source: Sarawak Voice

KUCHING: Sarawak 4 Sarawakians (S4S) wants to know why Malaya’s Merdeka continues to be portrayed as the primary celebration even in Sarawak.

It cautioned against passing off Malaya’s Merdeka Day on Aug 31 as National Day for Malaysia.

“Only Sept 16 can qualify as National Day. Malaysia did not exist on Aug 31,” its chairman, Peter John Jaban, said.

Jaban said in a statement: “The Jalur Gemilang of Malaysia must not be used to celebrate Malaya’s Merdeka on Aug 31. The Jalur Gemilang is for Malaysia Day on Sept 16.”

Aug 31, he said, had no significance for the people of Sarawak, adding: “Our history must not be based on collective amnesia.”

S4S wants an end to the misinformation on Aug 31 and its place in history.

Jaban said: “There must be greater prominence nationwide on Sept 16 or 916.

“There must be an accurate portrayal of the history of the nation in schools. Malaysia, born on 16 September 1963, is not 59 years old as the signs at airports and everywhere else claim.”

Ever since Sept 16 was declared a public holiday after nearly five decades had passed, the centre of celebrations had always alternated between Sabah and Sarawak, noted Jaban.

“Do the authorities in Kuala Lumpur have something to hide? Why isn’t Malaysia Day hosted in Malaya?”

In fact, he added in a little digression, Aug 31 is the day Malaya joined the Commonwealth of Nations. “Malaya became independent on July 31 when the UK Parliament passed the Independence of Malaya Act 1957.”

He hastened to add, however, that the people of Sabah and Sarawak would be happy to celebrate Malaya’s Merdeka.

In return, he called for the people on the other side of the South China Sea to celebrate Sarawak’s Independence Day on July 22 and Sabah’s Independence Day on Aug 31.

“They should also agree to host Malaysia Day, 916, in rotation with the two Borneo nations,” said Jaban.

Source: Free Malaysia Today

SIBU: Displays and advertisements declaring that Malaysia will celebrate its 59th ‘ birthday’ have gotten lawyer Priscilla Lau perplexed.

She pointed out that Malaysia was only formed on Sept 16, 1963, making it 53 years old next month.

“Only Malaya is celebrating its 59 years of independence from Aug 31, 1957,” she stressed.

Lau said Sarawak just celebrated 53 years of independence on July 22, while Sabah, which gained independence on Aug 31, 1963, will celebrate its 53 years of independence on Wednesday.

“Aug 31, therefore, has no significance for us Sarawakians,” she said.

She reiterated that referring to Aug 31 as Malaysia’s Independence Day is inappropriate as there was no such thing as Malaysia’s independence.

Lau said her intention of bringing up the matter is to educate rather than criticise.

“An attitude of acceptance of a wrong will never right a matter. We must seek to right a wrong matter in every possible way so that our generations will not be ignorant of our history,” she said.

“History has already been written. We cannot seek to rewrite history through our ignorance of the truth.”

Source: Borneo Post

IT is not wrong for the state to revisit what its forefathers have agreed to when the Malaysia Agreement was penned on July 9, 1963.

Assistant Minister of Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah said there were various factors that ought to be looked into especially when Sarawak attained independence through Malaysia more than 50 years ago.

“What they have agreed to at that time, what safeguards the state has got, whether these terms and conditions they have agreed to at that moment of time…were they followed through by the leaders of post Malaysia after the leaders that helmed this beloved nation of ours through the years?

“These are natural questions that come to us especially now with the increase in social media where people are able to access information easier and with a population with a good eduction background, there’s a lot of questions being asked,” he said in his debate to support the motion calling on the state government to be fully committed in safeguarding the special interest of the state which was tabled by Land Development Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing at the State Legislative Assembly yesterday.

Abdul Karim (BN Asajaya), who seconded the motion, said Sarawakians had experienced many levels of unhappiness throughout the years on issues concerning the rate of infrastructure such as the condition of schools, hospitals, clinics, roads, electricity and clean water supplies in the state, and the insufficient funding given by the federal government among others.

“There is also unhappiness of certain policies such as the usage of English, the use of the word ‘Allah’, and the right to practise one’s faith through the years as well as unhappiness over erosions of the rights of our territory especially on the ‘continental shelf’ which even before we formed Malaysia, are recognised as ours.”

“I won’t go into the very details on what are the areas that have been eroded but suffice for me to say that some of these matters have been highlighted by Our Right Honourable Chief Minister (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem) in his speeches across the state, in Peninsular Malaysia as well as by members of this august House,” he said.

Abdul Karim also said it was enlightening that the state government had set up several committees to discuss these issues with the federal government.

“It is enlightening to see that the state government is looking into this and we have got our own way of trying to address this problem so it will be a win-win situation for the state and the nation.

“The answers to these have not come about but slowly, we can see that the federal government is giving what we have requested for such as the (Pan Borneo) Highway, which is already undergoing construction now in Teluk Melano-Sematan and another in Bintulu while the request for increase in oil royalty as well as contracts of the oil industry to be given to local or state-linked companies seemed to be getting attention from Petronas and the federal government,” he said, adding that with the committees being set up, hopefully there’s light at the end of the tunnel for the state to be given more empowerment from the federal government.

Abdul Karim also took the opportunity to make a playful jab at the opposition stating that they had been trying to jump on the ‘popularity bandwagon’ that Adenan has created.

“It cannot be denied that Our Right Honourable Chief Minister has been steadfast in his efforts to get back the rights that are rightfully ours and which have through the years been taken away or diminished from us and unfortunately the opposition has tried to jump on the bandwagon as (prior to this) we have not heard them talking about this.

“It is probably because the election is near and they might have run out of issues. This is the first time I’ve seen so many motions (from the opposition) practically related to the same subject matter which is on the state-federal relationship,” he said.

Coincidently, opposition members Chong Chieng Jen (DAP Kota Sentosa), David Wong (DAP Pelawan) and See Chee How (PKR Batu Lintang) also filed the same motion that contained the same subject matters to what Masing had tabled.

Source: The Borneo Post

THE State Legislative Assembly yesterday unanimously approved a motion tabled by Land Development Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing who called on the state government to be fully committed in safeguarding the special interests of the state.

The motion also incorporates three other motions from Chong Chieng Jen (DAP Kota Sentosa), David Wong (DAP Pelawan) and See Chee How (PKR Batu Lintang) that contained the same subject matter to what Masing tabled.

Chong called for the appointment of a Special Select Committee to consider and review the terms of the Malaysia Agreement and the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution on four areas, namely Education, Healthcare, Internal Security and Taxation, while Wong tabled a motion on the use of English as the official language of Sarawak.

The motion tabled by See was to call on the august House to preserve and uphold the territorial integrity of Sarawak and Rejection of Territorial Sea Act 2012 as well as on the setting up of a commission to look into the constitutional and legal framework for devolution of powers to Sarawak.

Prior to the passing of the motion tabled by Masing, it was debated and supported by Assistant Minister of Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Chong as well as See.

Masing, who is also Baleh assemblyman, proposed that the august House mandates the state government to take all measures and action under Article VIII of the Malaysia Agreement with the federal government to ensure the complete implementation of all the recommendations of the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report for the advancement and safeguard the special interests of the state and the peoples of Sarawak.

“We also called on the state government to realign federal policies on education, health and official language so that they are consistent with the constitutional safeguards and the terms of the IGC Report.”

He also called for a review of the grants and other revenues assigned to the state shall be initiated and the discharge of financial burdens by the federal government on subject matters in the Concurrent List and additional sources of revenues be made available to the state government to carry out its constitutional functions and responsibilities to the people.

“We propose for the delegation of federal functions and powers to the state to ensure the efficient and effective monitoring or supervision, and timely implementation, of federal works and infrastructural projects in the state or projects designed to improve the welfare of the rural communities.”

Masing called for a review of all legislations that affect the state’s rights to its natural resources of the exercise powers and functions in relation thereto, under the Federal Constitution, within its boundaries and upon such review, to amend or repeal such legislation.

Finally, he called for a review of those federal government’s decisions or policies which were found to be inconsistent with the aspirations of the people of the state as noted in the Cobbold Commission Report and the IGC Report at the time of the formation of Malaysia.

According to Masing, the state government was firmly committed to accelerate the economic and social progress made by the state since Malaysia Day to enable the state to reach the level of development of the states in Peninsular Malaysia and be part of a developed nation by 2020.

“The state government is also fully committed to safeguard the special interests of the state as enshrined in Part XIIA of the Federal Constitution, the executive and legislative powers vested in the state and the revenues assigned to the state under the Tenth Schedule of the Federal Constitutions; the terms of the Malaysia Agreement and the recommendations of the IGC Report.”

He also said the state government was desirous that the state shall continue to have the authorities vested in the state under the Federal Constitution and additional sources of revenues, and full and meaningful consultation on all decisions, actions, plans, programmes, projects and policies which affect or concern or impact the state and its peoples.

Masing said the state was firmly committed towards strengthening the relationship between the state and federal governments in order to realise the goals of accelerating economic and social progress in the state particularly in the rural areas and to improve the welfare and well being of all communities in the state.

“The continued progress and advancement of Sarawak and the respect for the constitutional safeguards and special interests of the state will promote and strengthen national unity and contribute towards a strong and prosperous Malaysia.”

In his winding up speech, he thanked all the elected representatives for supporting the motion, adding it was important for all of them to speak on the same page on ways to preserve Sarawak’s rights.

“I would like to thank the member for Batu Lintang who spoke on territorial rights. There are two Acts that are very important to us; one is Territorial Sea Act 2012 and Continental Shelf Act 1966,” he said, adding that the Petroleum Mining Act 1966 was also equally important that the state government would look into.

Source: The Borneo Post

BENTANG USUL: Masing ketika membentangkan usul pada Persidangan DUN semalam.

KUCHING: Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) semalam sebulat suara meluluskan usul agar kerajaan negeri diberi kuasa penuh untuk mengambil segala langkah dan tindakan melindungi hak dan kepentingan Sarawak dengan mendesak kerajaan pusat melaksanakan sepenuhnya Perjanjian Malaysia 1963.

Usul itu dibentang oleh Menteri Kemajuan Tanah Tan Sri Datuk Amar James Masing bersama empat lagi usul dikemukakan Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Kota Sentosa), See Chee Haw (PKR-Batu Lintang) dan David Wong (DAP-Pelawan) kerana ia merangkumi perkara sama.

Masing ketika membaca usul itu berkata Artikel VII Perjanjian Malaysia 1963 memberi jaminan bahawa hak-hak kerajaan negeri akan dilindungi menerusi ‘semua pengesyoran dalam Laporan Jawatankuasa Antara Kerajaan (IGC) untuk menambah baik dan melindungi kepentingan-kepentingan istimewa negeri dan rakyat Sarawak’.

“Oleh itu, Dewan ini memberi mandat kepada kerajaan negeri melakukan rundingan dengan kerajaan persekutuan untuk menyemak serta menyusun semula dasar-dasar persekutuan dalam pendidikan, kesihatan dan bahasa rasmi.

“Semakan dan susunan semula itu penting supaya ia selaras dengan melindungi perlembagaan dan terma-terma Laporan IGC,” ujarnya.

Selain itu dengan lulusnya usul tersebut, mandat turut diberi kepada Ketua Menteri Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem menyemak semula semua undang-undang persekutuan termasuk meminda atau memansuh undang-undang yang menjejaskan hak-hak Sarawak terhadap sumber aslinya.

Undang-undang yang terlibat ialah Akta Pelantar Benua 1966, Akta Laut Wilayah 2012 dan Akta Petroleum 1966.

Akta Laut Wilayah 2012 mengehadkan wilayah perairan Sarawak iaitu dalam lingkungan tiga batu nautika dari pantai manakala Akta Pelantar Benua 1966 dan Akta Petroleum 1996 boleh menjejaskan tuntutan kerajaan negeri untuk mendapatkan pendapatan daripada sumber petroleum.

“Semakan semula ini boleh juga  merangkumi keputusan dan dasar kerajaan persekutuan jika ia didapati tidak seiring dengan aspirasi rakyat Sarawak seperti ditulis dalam Laporan Suruhanjaya Cobbold dan Laporan IGC.

“Mandat ini juga boleh digunakan untuk memulakan kajian semula geran dan pendapatan lain yang diberikan kepada Sarawak,”ujarnya.

Sementara itu pada persidangan sama, Dewan menolak beberapa usul dibangkit pembangkang antaranya usul dikemukakan Baru Bian (PKR- Ba’Kelalan).

Baru mengemukakan usul agar kerajaan negeri melaksanakan dasar-dasar tetap untuk mencapai ‘Borneonisasi’ dan pembahagian perkhidmatan jawatan dalam sektor awam yang seimbang dalam kalangan etnik di Malaysia terutama 90 peratus rakyat Sarawak dalam sektor pendidikan dan jawatan pengarah serta timbalan pengarah jabatan kerajaan pusat menjelang 2018.

Selain itu Dewan turut menolak secara bertulis usul Baru yang mahu Biro Tata Negara (BTN) disemak semula.

Baru yang ditemui selepas itu memberitahu, antara alasan dikemukakan Speaker DUN Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar menolak usul pertamanya ialah perkataan ‘Borneonisation’ tidak sesuai digunakan.

“Manakala usul berkaitan BTN, alasan ia ditolak ialah perkataan digunakan ketika membentangkan usul itu boleh mewujudkan perasaan niat jahat yang boleh menyebabkan permusuhan dalam kalangan berlainan kaum di Sarawak atau melanggar Perlembagaan Negeri Sarawak atau Perlembagaan Persekutuan atau Akta Hasutan 1948,” jelasnya.

Source: Utusan Borneo

KUCHING, Nov 18 ― Sarawak has adopted English as the official language of the state administration, apart from Bahasa Malaysia, Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem said today.

Adenan told the state civil service gathering this morning that official government correspondence can be in both languages, adding that it was a practical and logical step.

“There is no need for any official correspondence between government departments to be in Bahasa Malaysia all the time, you can use English in your correspondence at the same time,” he said in his speech at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here.

“I have been labelled as not being nationalistic or patriotic enough by others when I advocate for the use of English in Sarawak. I am just being practical and logical,” he said.

The chief minister said the use of English is necessary and unavoidable, also pointing out that it is the language of science.

He cited recent reports claiming that graduates here have been finding it hard to get employment because of their poor command of English and said this proves his point on the need to be proficient in the language.

“I do not know who made the decision not to use English in the past, but it has adversely affected other people now,” he said.

Adenan then urged the state’s civil servants to be skillful in English, reminding them that it is a universal language used as a communication tool across the globe.

On a separate matter, the chief minister issued a reminder to federal officers from other states to serve Sarawak well when they are posted here.

“You are in Sarawak to serve the people here. If you don't, we will file complaints with your big bosses in Kuala Lumpur, and we have every right to complain,” he said.

He said he will ask federal lawmakers from Sarawak to complain to Parliament if federal departmental heads here do not adequately serve the state.

“The complaints will then become political issues,” he said.

Federal officers not happy with serving in Sarawak can always request for transfers, he added.

“We have no problem with that, but we must insist that you must serve the state well,” he said.

Source: The Malay Online

Berikut ialah jawapan Ketua Menteri Sarawak dalam sesi soal jawab TV3 semalam berkaitan pembangunan serta hala tuju Negeri Sarawak.

SIBU: Fakta sejarah yang menyatakan bahawa Sarawak menyertai Malaysia adalah tidak benar dan ia harus diperbetulkan, kata Menteri Kerajaan Tempatan dan Pembangunan Masyarakat Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.

Sebaliknya jelas beliau, Sarawak telah membantu untuk membentuk Malaysia.

“Kesilapan itu harus kita perbetulkan dan harus diperbetulkan oleh pihak-pihak yang berkaitan.

“Kita perlu meletakkan fakta sejarah yang betul dan tepat untuk kita membentuk dan menjadi sebahagian daripada Malaysia.

“Dalam erti kata lain, Sarawak tidak menyertai Malaysia kerana Malaysia belum wujud lagi pada masa itu.

“Menurut fakta sejarahnya sebelum ini, Sarawak dilaporkan telah menyertai Malaysia dan banyak masyarakat menganggap Sarawak masuk Malaysia.

“Sebenarnya, fakta yang betul dan tepat adalah Sarawak membantu membentuk Malaysia dan tarikh 16 September adalah hari sebenar Hari Kebangsaan kita.

“Pembentukan rasmi Malaysia adalah jatuh pada tarikh 16 September 1963,” katanya kepada pemberita semasa ditemui selepas menyempurnakan Majlis Perasmian Pameran 50 Tahun Sarawak Merdeka Dalam Malaysia Peringkat Bahagian Sibu di Pusat Warisan Sibu di sini, kelmarin.

Hadir sama Pengerusi Majlis Perbandaran Sibu (MPS) Datuk Tiong Thai King, Residen Bahagian Sibu Sim Kok Kee, Setiausaha MPS Hii Chang Kee, Pegawai Kesihatan Bahagian Sibu Dr Muhamad Rais Abdullah serta ketua-ketua masyarakat.

Pameran yang mempamerkan kisah-kisah/gambar sejarah berkaitan kemerdekaan negeri ini berlangsung selama seminggu di pusat tersebut dan dibuka kepada orang ramai dari jam 9 pagi hingga jam 5 petang.

Acara 10 hari itu dianjurkan oleh Pejabat Residen Bahagian Sibu.

Ditanya sama ada terdapat usaha-usaha kerajaan memperbetul kesilapan tersebut, beliau berkata: “Ini akan dilakukan secara beransur-ansur kerana melibatkan kajian yang teliti berdasarkan fakta dan bukti yang kukuh.

” Wong yang juga Menteri Kanan dan Menteri Kewangan Kedua turut teringat akan peristiwa pada 22 Julai 1963 di mana bendera Union Jack diturunkan manakala bendera Sarawak dinaikkan buat pertama kalinya.

“Malah, Sarawak merdeka dari 22 Julai hingga 16 September bagi tempoh 68 hari apabila Malaysia diwujudkan.

“Ini sebahagian daripada sejarah yang mungkin banyak masyarakat tidak tahu,” jelasnya.

Sementara itu, beliau memberitahu bahawa pameran yang diadakan itu adalah berbentuk ilmu serta pengetahuan yang dikongsikan kepada orang ramai untuk melihat sejarah, peristiwa bersejarah serta pelbagai peringkat pembangunan yang telah berlaku di negeri ini.

Ini katanya, adalah satu platform untuk memupuk kesedaran generasi muda mengenai apa yang telah berlaku kepada negeri ini dan negara sebelum mencapai kemerdekaan.

“Oleh itu, generasi muda tidak boleh mengambil ringan tentang soal kemerdekaan.

“Segala keamanan, keharmonian dan pertumbuhan ekonomi yang pesat sekarang adalah hasil usaha keras mereka yang terdahulu yang sanggup mengorbankan nyawa demi menuntut kemerdekaan.

Dalam pada itu, Wong yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Bawang Assan turut menggesa para pelajar sekolah mengunjungi pameran itu yang disifatkannya sebagai satu pendidikan sejarah.

Source: The Borneo Post

KUCHING, Oct 29 — The UK cannot disavow responsibility if the Malaysia Agreement 1963 it helped to draft has been violated, Sarawak minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing said today.

Masing explained that this was because the UK was party to the agreement that was signed when Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and — briefly — Singapore joined together to form Malaysia, and must be held accountable.

“The UK government has to tell us what are the conditions in the MA63 that could have been breached,” he told reporters.

“If indeed there are wrong somewhere, they must come back and fix the wrongs, if there is any,” the state land development minister told reporters today after signing a memorandum of understanding between Bakun Charitable Trust and Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) here.

The Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president said, however, that his remarks did not mean he was implying that Putrajaya has breached the agreement.

Masing was responding to Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan’s remarks blaming the UK for not doing enough to prevent the confusion that has cropped up following their withdrawal with the formation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963.

Speaking in Parliament last Tuesday, Pairin, who is also Parti Bersatu (PBS) president, said the British government had allowed the situation to deteriorate since then as there were many unresolved issues regarding interpretation of the MA63.

He said a reading of the Malaysia Act 1963, Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report and Cobbold Commission Report led him to conclude that the UK acted as though it was in a rush to relinquish its duties to the two Borneo states.

The former Sabah chief minister also urged the British High Commissioner to Malaysia to convey the grievances of Sabahans to the Queen of England.

Source: The Malay Online

KUCHING, Oct 30 ― The High Court today reversed the home ministry’s decision to ban a local civil society group, nearly a year after the pro-Sarawak rights movement was declared illegal by Putrajaya.

Datuk Rhodzarian Bujang ruled that the ministry’s decision to ban the Sarawak Association of Peoples’ Aspirations (SAPA) was irrational, illegal, unconstitutional and without basis.

“As of today, SAPA is no longer an illegal society,” the group’s counsel Dominique Ng Kim Ho told reporters after the judge made her ruling in chambers.

Ng said the judge agreed with his arguments that SAPA was not given the chance to respond to allegations made against them before the ministry declared that it was illegal on November 14 last year.

He added that five out of the nine police reports lodged against the group had nothing to do with a public forum organised by SAPA, where a panel speaker had allegedly made seditious remarks.

SAPA president Lina Soo said the court ruling vindicates their position that Sarawakians have every right to speak out against any perceived violation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the accompanying Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report ― which were signed by Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore to formalise the formation of the federation.

“Now that SAPA has been declared legal, we will speak against any violation of the MA63,” she said, referring to the Malaysia Agreement.

In a federal gazette published on Nov14 last year, Zahid  gave his “opinion that SAPA is being used for purposes prejudicial to the interest of the security of Malaysia and public order”.

Subsequently, the RoS deregistered SAPA under Section 5 (1) of the Societies Act 1966.

Apart from reversing the home ministry’s decision, the court also ordered the federal government to pay RM8,000 in costs.

Source: The Malay Online

KOTA SAMARAHAN, 9 September 2015: Sebuah surat "Arahan Larangan Anggota Tentera Menampal Pelekat Kenderaan 'Sarawak For Sarawakian (S4S)' dan Sabah Sarawak Keluar Malaysia (SSKM)" telah dikeluarkan oleh Tentera Darat yang ditujukan kepada Kem Muara Tuang, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak.

Surat yang tarikhnya dipadamkan telah menjadi viral apabila Admin Page Facebook Sabah Sarawak Union - United Kingdom telah memposkan surat tersebut didalam Page Wall mereka untuk tujuan perkongsian dan perbincangan.

Melalui kenyataan didalam Page tersebut, admin Page telah menyatakan bahawa anggota-anggota Tentera yang berasal daripada Sabah dan Sarawak telah mendapat tekanan daripada pihak pentadbiran tentera untuk tidak memberikan sokongan seperti penglibatan diri terhadap pergerakan sosial daripada kumpulan Sarawak For Sarawakian (S4S) dan Sabah Sarawak Keluar Malaysia (SSKM).

Tambahannya lagi, jikalau tentera sendiri telah mengambil langkah seperti ini, "apakah maksud disebaliknya?"

Admin Page tersebut juga telah menimbulkan persoalan yang membuatkan pengguna-pengguna laman sosial Facebook berbincang tentang perkara ini. Didalam persoalan yang ditimbulkan ialah "adakah aura dan sentimen perjuangan SSKM-SSU(UK) dan S4S dikhuatiri akan mempengaruhi minda tentera-tentera yang berasal dari Borneo, Negara Sabah dan Negara Sarawak?"

Kesan terhadap kekhuatiran tersebut telah menyebabkan pemantauan yang ketat dilakukan oleh semua Pegawai Memerintah dan Pemerintah tertinggi Tentera di setiap Kem yang mana arahan tersebut berkuatkuasa serta-merta.

Maklumbalas daripada pengguna laman sosial Facebook terhadap surat larangan tersebut memberikan pelbagai pandangan peribadi dan rata-rata mereka memberikan respon kesedaran bahawa malaya kini kian menampakkan kerisauan akan kebangkitan bangsa Sabah dan bangsa Sarawak didalam menuntut Kemerdekaan bagi negara mereka.

Source: Bobohizan.com

FOKUS: Kekurangan Sarawak pada hari ini adalah parti pembangkang dan gabungan pembangkang yang berasal dari negeri ini sendiri.

Pembangkang yang kita ada hari ini adalah parti dari Malaya. Dengan seruan-seruan untuk autonomi yang lebih besar, penurunan kuasa kepada negeri, pemenuhan Perjanjian Malaysia 1963 dan Sarawak untuk orang Sarawak (S4S). Dengan mengambil kira hal-hal ini, DAP, PKR dan PAS – kesemuanya parti dari Malaya – akan mendapati mereka semakin terpinggir daripada sentimen umum warga Sarawak.

Sementara itu Ketua Menteri Adenan Satem akan terus memberi penekanan dengan kenyataannya seperti “kami mahu autonomi penuh dikembalikan”, “pencuri balak perlu dibanteras”, “kawasan hutan kekal perlu diperbanyakkan” dan “Putrajaya mengambil pendekatan yang salah dan kami lebih tahu situasi tempatan dan bagaimana untuk mentadbir negeri”.

Suka atau tidak, kenyataan-kenyataan ini selari dengan sentimen warga Sarawak kerana hanya Adenan yang berani bercakap tentangnya. Dan tanpa perlu menjadi populis.

Adenan bukannya menjadi populis. Beliau hanya berkata bahawa Sarawak satu ketika dahulu memiliki segalanya, namun telah dirompak selepas diperdaya bahawa Malaysia akan menjadikannya lebih makmur.

“Sebelum 16 September 1963 kita memiliki status autonomi penuh,” beliau dilaporkan berkata. Hari ini beliau memimpin perjuangan untuk mengambil semula apa yang menjadi kepunyaan negeri.

Inilah apa yang akan dilakukan anak Sarawak sejati. Memang kerajaannya adalah kerajaan Barisan Nasional. Tetapi ini kerana beliau tidak mahu menjadi kerajaan pembangkang.

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) di bawah pimpinan Joseph Pairin Kitingan pernah menjadi kerajaan pembangkang. Lihatlah apa yang terjadi kepadanya dan negeri itu.

Sarawak boleh mengawal hal-ehwalnya sendiri, namun ia tidak akan dapat mengawal Parlimen. Dengan menjadi sebahagian daripada BN, Sarawak bukan sahaja dapat ditadbir secara sepatutnya, ia juga dapat memberikan tekanan kepada Putrajaya.

Putrajaya memiliki tanggungjawab memberikan dana kepada Sarawak. Ia juga bertanggungjawab untuk membantu membangunkan negeri. Itulah tugas kerajaan pusat.

Kerajaan Adenan memiliki pegangan dalam kerajaan pusat melalui keahlian BN-nya. Ia memudahkan komunikasi dan persefahaman antara Sarawak dan Putrajaya.

Permainan Adenan adalah permainan untuk orang Sarawak dari orang Sarawak, dan dengan gaya Sarawak.

Bukankah beliau telah mengatakannya? “Kita lebih tahu tentang situasi tempatan dan bagaimana untuk mentadbir negeri dengan lebih baik.”

Saya ingin melihat pengusiran MP DAP Petaling Jaya Utara Tony Pua daripada negeri sebagai sebahagian daripada keseluruhan perjuangan Adenan bagi Sarawak untuk orang Sarawak.

Mesej Adenan nampaknya adalah orang Sarawak perlu mempunyai keyakinan untuk melaksanakan perjuangannya sendiri. Orang Sarawak tidak boleh bergantung kepada pihak Malaya untuk kekuatan fizikal dan moral.

Ketika era Darurat, warga Sarawak telah berjuang menentang komunis di Malaya. Ada yang terkorban. Orang Malaya tidak akan dapat menyekat komunisme dengan sendiri, tanpa renjer dan pengesan dari Sarawak.

Manakala askar Malaya yang berhadapan serangan Indonesia di Tebedu ketika penghujung konfrontasi Malaysia-Indonesia hanya meninggalkan ingatan-ingatan melucukan. Menurut cerita orang tempatan, mereka menembak ke atas pokok! Ada yang berlawak bahawa mungkin askar-askar ini merasakan orang Indonesia juga tinggal di atas pokok!

Secara ringkasnya, warga Sarawak sentiasa mampu berdikari, ketika zaman perang dan juga aman. Mengapa pada masa ini pihak Malaya seperti Pua dianggap seperti wira pula?

DAP Sarawak tidak akan mendapat simpati daripada warga negeri ini dengan terlalu bergantung kepada rakan mereka di Malaya.

DAP Sarawak perlu berjuang seperti orang Sarawak dan untuk orang Sarawak. Bukan untuk Malaya.

Apa yang negeri ini perlukan adalah parti atau gabungan pembangkang Sarawak yang sebenar, yang lahir dan bertapak di negeri ini.

DAP Sarawak boleh menjadi parti itu jika ia adalah Parti Tindakan Demokratik Sarawak, dan bukannya Parti Tindakan Demokratik Malaya cawangan Sarawak.

Source: The Ant Daily

KUCHING: A petition conducted by Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) proposing for full autonomy has so far received 30,000 signatures from across the state.

Person-in-charge of the S4S south, central and north zones, KC Tan, told a press conference yesterday that the response towards the petition was very encouraging since it was launched on Sept 16.

“Honestly, the response is very positive and we collected over 300 signatures on the launch day itself.

“Bumiputeras account for 55 per cent of the supporters and the rest are Chinese,” he added.

The statewide three-month long petition drive targets to collect 300,000 signatures by Dec 31.

The objective of the petition is to seek an enactment of a Referendum Ordinance to protect the rights of Sarawak and wants the Federal Government to honour the Malaysia Agreement signed on Feb 23, 1963.

Tan said numerous changes had been made to the many safeguards of the state’s rights since it signed the Malaysia Agreement in 1963, affecting issues such as religious freedom, immigration control, the special position of Sarawak natives, state ownership over natural resources, the use of English as the official language of the state and education.

Tan also made clear that an online petition, in which many have claimed to have supported, was not opened by them.

“Many came and told us they have signed online. But we have yet to create an online petition site. If we did, we would have publicised it widely through various channels to inform the public.”

Tan thus urged members of the public to personally come forward to pen their signatures at various booths set up across Kuching, Serian and Samarahan.

“Go to the official booths to pen your signatures. The public can recognise us with our petition working ID card.

“We will create an online petition site in due time to allow Sarawakians living outside Sarawak and Malaysia to support the referendum,” he said.

Two weeks from now, he added, the group was planning to go into the rural areas and villages to promote their mission and collect more signatures.

At the end of the campaign, Tan said the petition would be handed over to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem for further action.

“We will continue to pursue our mission in other ways even if we fail to gather 300,000 signatures by end of the year,” he said.

The various signature collection points are at the mooncake festivals sites at Batu Kawah old bazaar and Carpenter Street, Hui Sing (weekend only from 10am to 5pm), Premier 101 (daily from 7.30pm to 11pm), eMart in Matang, Ang Cheng Ho (QZ Cafe on Sunday 9am to 5pm only), the big food court at Samarindah in Muara Tuang (daily from 7pm to 10pm) as well as Serian, Mile 17 and Sri Aman.

Source: The Borneo Post Online