By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Nov 18: Non-Sarawakian parties can always contest in the upcoming 12th Sarawak State Election (PRN12), but it should be kept in mind that Sarawakians know Sarawak best.
This reminder was given by Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah to Sarawakians as he urged the people to support local Sarawak parties instead of those from Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah.
Though there is no legal restriction that obstructs political parties from other parts of Malaysia to contest in Sarawak, he viewed it as better to leave Sarawak in the hands of its own people.
“We do pratise democracy. Whoever wants to contest, whether they represent local parties or parties from outside of Sarawak, we have to allow that.
“But as a State or region that has many of its rights to be taken care of, only those parties consisting of Sarawakians or those established in Sarawak will know what’s best for Sarawak,” he stressed.
Should non-Sarawakian parties be given the mandate, Abdul Karim said any decision or policy to be implemented in future will have to go through the federal government in Kuala Lumpur all the same.
This would pose an issue, said the Minister of Youth and Sports during a press conference on Kuching Creative City of Gastronomy 2021 at Bangunan Baitulmakmur here today.
Abdul Karim, who is the also Asajaya incumbent, thus expressed hope that Sarawakians will continue to place their trust in local parties despite Sarawak being a democratic region altogether. — DayakDaily
