By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Jan 14: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Secretary General Datuk Sebastian Ting explains that until the Emergency Ordinance was lifted, no one in Sarawak would talk about Sarawak’s rights, which were considered ‘sensitive issues’.
Apart from the lifting of Emergency Ordinance in 2011 by former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, former Chief Minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem was the other reason which gave rise to the awareness of Sarawak’s rights among Sarawakians.
“It traces back to Tok Nan who initiated Sarawak’s autonomy movement. In 2015, things happened. And before that, Najib abolished the Emergency Ordinance. No one would want to talk about anything that is more sensitive.
“Only with Tok Nan and the abolishment of the Emergency Ordinance, then people started to get aware and now we move on,” said Ting.
For the state government to start fighting for Sarawak’s rights, was a case of better late than never.
“Now, we are here. What we think we must do to help, we must do and we must help.
“What is more important now is to look forward. We realise that there are things that we must do to make sure that we control and take control of what should be ours and what we think should be ours and we move forward,” said Ting in response to a question of “Why the fight for Sarawak now?” at Kuching Court Complex this morning.
Today, there are three applications in session in Kuching Court Complex in relation to the case of the Sarawak government suing Petronas over non-payment of five per cent State Sales tax on petroleum and petroleum products.
The three applications included Petronas’ application of the recusal of presiding judge, Petronas’ application for the case to be referred to the Federal Court and also Sarawak government’s application for disposal of the case based on points of law (summary hearing).
Leaders and supporters of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) came in drove to grant supports to Sarawak government in the case.
Speaking on behalf of SUPP, Ting said SUPP was there to support Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and other GPS component parties who were all present.
“They are strongly supporting the present case, plus oil and gas belongs to Sarawak and it is from our land and territorial sea. All the past so many years have gone by, but now, it is time for us to make sure that we protect what we think should be ours.
“As Sarawakians, we must really love our Sarawak and make sure that what belongs to us, we will take it back,” said Ting. —DayakDaily
