KUCHING, April 15: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Mas Gading says that the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s One Malaysia concept is merely a slogan to foster stronger ties between Sarawak, Sabah and Malaya.
It deputy branch chairman Francis Teron Kadap likened it to the 1Malaysia initiative by former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
“Firstly, TSJMM (Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing) should have known that the One Malaysia concept propagated by Tun Dr Mahathir was merely a slogan to foster better integration amongst the three territories namely Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak, and has nothing to do with taking away our control over our rights to control the influx of non-Sarawakians into Sarawak.
“Very much like 1Malaysia propounded by ex-PM Najib Abdul Razak and various other brand names coined by the previous administration,” said Teron in a statement today.
Teron was responding to Masing who warned Sarawak against warming up to the so-called “One Malaysia” concept suggested by Dr Mahathir, as Masing claimed it could see the removal for use of passports to enter Sarawak.
The deputy chief minister said this predicament was further expounded by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia deputy president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir who said in his debate in Parliament that it was ridiculous for Peninsular Malaysians to use passports when travelling to Sarawak.
“Once the immigration flood gate is opened, Sarawak will be inundated by Malayan professionals who will not require work permits to operate in Sarawak and our people will suffer. That is why our immigration autonomy was stipulated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Therefore, it is of prime importance that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) must control the State Legislative Assembly. That would be our last stand against Pakatan Harapan’s encroachment onto our land and resources,” said Masing at a gathering at Rumah Greman in Nanga Kabah, Ngemah recently.
Teron also pointed out that to take away such rights, it requires constitutional amendments which requires two-thirds majority in Parliament.
“It won’t be that easy to erase such rights. In the event of doubt, no right-minded Sarawakians will support such a move. It is also ironic that TSJMM had failed to convince his MPs to support the recent constitutional amendment to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution which sought to cement the foundation for more rights of Sarawak to be given back having been eroded for the last 50 years odd so,” said Teron.
He said only the former Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) government has been abusing Sarawak’s immigration autonomy to bar the entry of certain individuals.
“On the other hand, we have seen in the past that such rights and powers, have been abused by the then BN government of Sarawak to bar certain individuals from entering Sarawak for mere political reasons, and not so much of ‘protecting the rights’.
“Such a speculative statement is highly regretted,” said Teron. — DayakDaily
