By Ling Hui, Lian Cheng & Karen Bong
KUCHING, April 16: If Sarawak’s rights continue to be divested, there is no stopping the younger generation of Sarawakians from wanting independence and for Sarawak to be separated from the Federation of Malaysia.
This is the view of Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah when he said the new generation of Sarawakians and Sabahans have their own way of seeing things, for they are well educated and knowledgeable.
Thus, if the conditions of unfairness or shortchanging persists in Sarawak and Sabah, nothing can stop these young ones from demanding for equality.
“If it (equality) is not being addressed properly, the new generation of Sarawakians and Sabahans might start questioning, ‘Why should we be in this grand coalition?’.
“We are trying to avoid it. The older generation like me, like many others who were born even before Malaysia, they would not want this to happen.
“But we cannot stop those that are born in the 90s or in the years 2000, because a lot of them are professionals and are well read,” he told DayakDaily reporters today.
He was responding to a question on whether Sarawak Independence is an option out of what many term to be unjust treatment by the Federal government.
Believing that Sarawak could avoid reaching such a stage, Abdul Karim who is also Youth and Sports Minister, said it would be best to reach a state where the interests of all parties are accounted for.
“That’s why if there is no fairness, if there is this feeling whereby we felt that we have been shortchanged, if we feel we have been bullied, we can’t stop the new generation from demanding for equality.
“So, before we reach that state, it’s better for us to come to our senses to accommodate and make everyone feel happy,” he said. — DayakDaily
