By Nigel Edgar
KUCHING, Feb 14: Social media group Voice of Sarawak (VoS) is organising a Chinese New Year (CNY) Dinner-Cum-Talk next weekend featuring three politicians to share their views on Sarawak’s political development.
The three politicians are former Batu Lintang assemblyman Voon Lee Shan, former Padungan assemblyman Dominique Ng and State Reform Party (STAR) president Lina Soo.
Organising chairman Chiong Swee Sin said the dinner would be held on Feb 23 at It Hng Teochew Restaurant here.
“There will be two main topics the speakers will talk about. One is on the validity of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and second is on Sarawak’s independence,” he told reporters earlier today.
Revealing some of the issues to be talked about during the dinner, Chiong said for MA63 it would be: “Is it still valid? Who signed the agreement? What is its credibility, who authorised it and who represented who?”
On the Sarawak independence topic, among the issues that would be delved into would be the legitimacy of the transfer between the British government and the Malayan government in 1963.
“Was Sarawak independent? If it was, where is the Sarawak Act? Every independent country should have a treaty and an act. So far, we only have the Malaysian Act. Does that mean we are now still a colony? Back before 1963, we were a British colony. The only difference now is the change of colony master,” he said.
Chiong said everyone was invited to join and participate in the dinner-cum-talk; however, seats are limited. In fact, out of the 30 tables (10 persons per table) provided, 25 have been sold or booked.
Tickets are priced at RM38 per pax.
For inquiries or to make reservations or to purchase tickets, call Chiong at 017-8207775 or committee member Eddie Loh at 016-8602145.
VoS is a social media group and platform aimed at being a channel for all Sarawakians, regardless of their racial and religious backgrounds, to voice their needs, wants and opinions on Sarawak in a constructive and peaceful manner.
Chiong said VoS was not affiliated to any political group or politician.
He admitted that the group, which had yet to be registered with the Registrar of Societies (RoS), was set up by a group of Sarawakians who wanted to see the state progress. — DayakDaily
