KUCHING, Nov 14: The referendum to stay or leave Malaysia has no legal binding and thus, a waste of time and money, said Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Dr James Masing.
The state deputy chief minister added that if Sarawak were to hold a referendum for the purpose, it is a direct conflict with federal constitution.
“Referendum has no legal binding. Its just a litmus test on Sarawak’s feelings against Putrajaya and it will put us in direct conflict with federal constitution. It’s not healthy,” he said in a statement.
He called on those pursuing the matter to do it with great care, while stating his view that Sarawakians should just pursue the rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“I would advise people who pursue this line of suggestion to be careful and at the same time, I would advise Putrajaya to be sensitive to the hues and cries of Sarawakians. Adhere to MA63.
“If Putrajaya adheres to it they can’t go wrong. Sarawakians neither ask for nothing more nor do they expect less,” he continued.
Masing was responding to Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) recent resolution of advocating for referendum of leave or stay in the Malaysian federation.
In the party’s annual delegates conference on Sunday, SUPP had resolved to call on the federal government to hold referendum for Sarawakians to decide whether to stay or leave Malaysia as among its resolutions. — DayakDaily
