KUCHING, September 1: The prime minister should not shove the notion of “Malaysia as an ideal country” down the throats of Sarawakians, if the state is not respected as equal partners, said Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S).
Its spokesperson Tan Kok Chiang believed the rights of Sarawak and Sabah as equal partners to Peninsular Malaysia, as well as the equality of the ethnic groups living in the two territories, has never been respected.
In this sense, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had no right to ask Sabahans and Sarawakians to look upon the Malaysian Federation as an ideal country, he said.
Tan was referring to a recent statement made by Dr Mahathir that Bangsa Malaysia, an ideology meant to unite Malaysians irrespective of race and religion, will remain a dream if the people don’t take it up.
“In the last 55 years since 1963, Sarawak has never received much attention from the Federal government. Instead, Federal has eroded the rights of oil and gas of Sarawak, which should be 100 per cent owned by Sarawak, were denied.
“How can the Federal government expect Sarawakians to take Malaysia as an ideal country?” he opined.
He claimed that many Sarawakians have been frustrated by the manipulation of the Federal government, including changing the history of the Federation of Malaysia in the education history syllabus, as well as reducing Sabah and Sarawak to 12th and 13th states of Malaysia.
“The true history of Sabah and Sarawak are nowhere to be found in our history textbook. Since the establishment of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, it has only been 55 years, and not 61 years as announced by the federal government.
“What is the intention behind all these? It is obvious that Sarawak has been ill-treated and taken advantage of for so many years. What right does the Prime Minister have to expect Sarawakians to respect this country?” he said. — DayakDaily
