By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, April 13: Former Mas Gading MP Patrick Anek Uren is now the acting president of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB).
The decision was made by the party’s supreme council (SC) today following the demise of Cobbold John Lusoi on March 7. Prior to this, Anek was the party’s deputy president.
Cobbold, who was the then president, died of a heart attack at his home in Kuala Lumpur.
“This is our party’s first meeting after Cobbold’s death. Since the presidential post is still vacant, the SC agreed to appoint me as the acting president until the next triennial general meeting (TGM), which must be held before the end of July this year,” Anek told a press conference today.
Meanwhile, Anek reiterated that as a local-based Sarawakian party, PBDSB would continue to monitor and voice out what or where there is a necessity, especially on empowering the rights of Sarawakians.
“We will continue to do this and go along with only local-based parties that has similar objectives and policies like ours. However, we will not cooperate with non-Sarawak parties such as those from Pakatan Harapan (PH),” Anek emphasised.
On the recent PH failure to amend the Federal Constitution Article 1(2) Bill 2019 in Parliament, Anek said PBDSB was in tandem with Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)’s position by abstaining from voting.
“PBDSB believed there are so many more things and issues that need to be raised and discussed before the amendment of the Bill. Our struggle is to unite with fellow Sarawakians. We must protect our resources, reserves and rights. What is ours must be returned to Sarawak,” Anek said.
PBDSB, he disclosed, was also looking forward to the highly anticipated 12th state election (PRN12), which is due in 2021.
“We will definitely work together with local-based parties to prevent PH or any Malaya parties from setting their foot in Sarawak.
“PH is already the federal government of the day. If they take over our state assembly, we fear they will amend our state constitutions, taking away our rights according to Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and resources for their own benefits,” he said.
He added that much respect had been given to the federal government that Sarawak’s oil and gas revenues and from other sources had, for the past 50 years, been milked to the benefit of Putrajaya and who in turn has been using those revenues to develop Malaya only.
He also opined that the people’s level of awareness of political issues affecting the future of Sarawak was very much evident and the people had voiced out loud and clear.
He said Sarawak had a special position in Malaysia and in their relationship with Malaya that comprises 11 states. Therefore, leaders from the federal government should never behave as if they regard Sarawak and its ministers as inferior to them. — DayakDaily
