Aspirasi launches 8-point manifesto

Lina Soo (second left) together with the Aspirasi chairman Buln Ribos (left), and Aspirasi deputy president Hugh Lawrence Zhender (second right) showing the party's eight-point manifesto after a press conference today, while the others look on.

KUCHING, Sept 24: Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party (Aspirasi) has launched its eight-point manifesto focusing on Sarawak’s rights and its future directions.

According to its president Lina Soo, the manifesto’s vision is to let the people of Sarawak be aware of what their rights are and what they deserve.

“What Aspirasi are doing is that we want to deliver the referendum to the people of Sarawak and let them decide (on it). This is a democratic and universally recognised practice and it is also peaceful.

“This is a visionary manifesto, this manifesto will set the direction for the future of Sarawak, and this is our stand. We know where Sarawak should go,” she said when unveiling the party’s manifesto during a press conference held at a local hotel, here today.

At the same time, Soo said after 57 years joining the federation, Sarawak is still one of the poorest states in the country after being persuaded to join the federation of Malaya to form Malaysia, with the promise that Sarawak will be developed.

“We have to tell the people this is what the people of Sarawak deserve. This is our stand. This is a visionary statement; the people of Sarawak deserve to be rich, deserve to have their land, and we deserve to benefit from the oil-and-gas (O&G) revenue,” added Soo.

Apart from that, Soo also said that Aspirasi will focus on combating corruption by setting up an independent commission.

She pointed that all stolen assets acquired by politicians through illegal means shall be tracked and returned to the Sarawak people, including political corruption of “frogging”.

“Elected lawmakers trade their political affiliations for personal profit to bring down a government must be made punishable by law,” she said.

Meanwhile, Soo said that the party will contest for 22 seats for the coming state election and its electoral partners under Gasak, namely the Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB), Sarawak Worker’s Party (SWP), including its two non-governmental organisation will be contesting in others seats that is yet to be finalised.

The Aspirasi eight-point manifesto include Sarawak Independence Referendum (SIR), Universal Basic Income (UBI), Land for landless, Reject all legislation which contravene the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Infrastructural and digital transformation, combating corruption, Homeland security, and Secularism-inclusiveness-harmony. — DayakDaily.