By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, June 22: Sarawak DAP Social Youth publicity secretary Abdul Aziz Isa Marindo has warned Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) during a debate here today that the latter’s insistence to seek independence from Malaysia could cause unrest and even civil war.
“To be honest, the legal arguments presented by Voon Lee Shan may sound very effective but bear in mind that if I have a case in court and if he represents me as my lawyer to advocate such argument, I will be very worried.
“You (Voon) opened the floodgate for a constitutional crisis and it can become a bloodshed or civil war,” said Aziz when rebutting PBK president Voon’s insistence that the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) is null and void.
As a result of the veiled threat, Aziz was booed by a section of the audience.
Voon had pledged that if PBK won the coming state election due in 2021, it would negotiate with the federal government for better deals, failing which PBK would seek independence from the Federation of Malaysia.
Voon insisted that due to shortcomings within the MA63, he considered it null and void.
“If PBK forms the state government, the first thing we will do is sit down with the federal government to cede because of the economic and political suppressions against the people of Sarawak. That was the action taken by Singapore when it ceded from Malaysia in 1965.
“If you don’t agree, if the marriage fails, you negotiate. Once you fail to negotiate, you declare independence. That should be the way,” said Voon, adding that Sarawak could seek the assistance of the United Nations (UN) similar to other countries that have gone through a similar experience.
Earlier, Aziz said should the DAP take over the reins of power in Sarawak in the next state polls, then it would make sweeping reforms in major appointments such as the Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly and to limit the Chief Minister’s tenure in office.
He stressed that DAP would insist on social integrity, good governance and social justice, regardless of race and religion.
Meanwhile, Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), which was supposed to be represented by its Youth chief Michael Tiang, pulled out from the debate in the last minute as his father was very ill. He was replaced by the party’s Youth secretary-general Milton Foo.
Foo argued that SUPP has always wanted a better deal for Sarawak and its people.
“I joined SUPP because I want to serve the people. And for me, if SUPP and GPS win the next state election, we must insist on a time frame for the negotiation of our rights, failing which I will quit from the party,” he said.
The debate entitled `Sarawak What’s next? A DAP-SUPP-PBK Debate’ was organised by the Movement of Change, Sarawak (MoCS) and was moderated by its president, Francis Siah. Some 150 people attended the debate. — DayakDaily
