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KUCHING, Aug 17: A group of Borneo activists has labelled the proposal by a coalition of Muslim non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan to establish a Malay-Muslim government without the multicultural Democratic Action Party (DAP), as “syiok sendiri” (self-indulgent), disconnected from political reality and unlikely to materialise.
In a joint statement, spokesperson for Global Human Rights Federation of Malaysia Peter John Jaban pointed out that for such a proposal to happen in Malaya, Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) must officially end, allowing Sabah and Sarawak to opt out and leave the Federation of Malaysia and let the people of Malaya do whatever they desire best for themselves.
“As a matter of fact, a mutually agreed separation is a win-win solution for both Malaya and the Borneo Territory as each side gets what it wants—Malaya, a Malay-Muslim government and the Borneo Territory, a secular colourblind government.
“Regionalism is the best future for our nation. It would be an antidote to race-based politics and policies that allow divide and rule, as well as all the incredible states of Malaysia to celebrate their own unique history and culture.
“It would also allow the Chinese and Indians communities of Malaysia to take their place alongside the indigenous people, the Dayak and the Malays on an equal basis,” he argued.
Underpinning the argument, Peter John, who has been leading pressure groups and movements on various issues, asserted the importance of upholding the rule of law as remaining the foundation of Malaysia’s Constitution which is colourblind, secular, and enshrines freedom of conscience, speech, association and assembly.
“When politics comes in through the door, economics will fly out the window. The people in the kampung (rural areas) will suffer the most.
“There is no race, religion and political parties in Parliament, only lawmakers. Lawmakers are elected by all, and pledged on oath, must serve all,” he reminded.
Peter John said the people should reject political personality cults and those that use democracy as a disguise, while emphasising the need for active citizen participation in democracy beyond election cycles.
“Democracy isn’t about voting once in five years and going home and sleeping until the next election. Democracy only works if the people participate,” he added.
The focus, he pointed out, should be on local government elections for a ‘bottom up’ movement in democracy, which will lead to making a difference for the better, including in management of taxes, focus on local development, and sharing of the cake by companies with the government and local communities.
When Hudud Law is mooted, Peter John emphasised, Malaysia’s only non-Muslim majority State will speak out.
When policies based on race and religion work to stamp out individual cultures, he added, Sarawakian activists will call out “Sarawakians for Sarawak or Sarawak for Sarawakians” and Sabahan counterparts will call out “Sabah for Sabahans”.
Peter John said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was responsible for the rise of the “Sarawakians for Sarawak” sentiment in the region by shortchanging Sarawak, which gave rise to racism.
“For more then 50 years, Sarawakians and Sabahans were clustered together as ‘Lain-Lain’ or ‘Others’ depriving us our right to state our true identity as Iban, Bidayuh, Kenyah, Kayan, Melanau, Penan, or as any of the 26 different Sarawakian ethnic groups in formal documents.
“We Sarawakians and Sabahans have always been sidelined and seem to be invisible people to the leaders in Malaya ever since Malaysia was formed. This is part of the reason why we Sarawakians are not keen to be part of Malaysia anymore,” he claimed.
This joint statement was issued alongside Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo) president Daniel John Jambun and Gindol Initiative for Civil Society Borneo chairman Kanul Gindol and endorsed by nine other Sabah and Sarawak NGOs.
They are the Sabah Sarawak Rights Australia New Zealand (SSRANZ), Persatuan Kebudayaan Orang Darat Sabah, Persatuan Pembangunan Sosial Komuniti Sabah (BANGUN), Pertubuhan Kebajikan Rumpun Dayak Sabah, Pertubuhan Prihatin Mualaf Sabah, Industrious Council of Natives (ICON) Sarawak, Sarawak Association for Peoples Aspirations (SAPA), Persatuan Etnik Dayak Asal Sarawak and Dayak National Congress. — DayakDaily
