By William Isau
SIBU, Dec 27: Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) might have not won any of the 73 seats it contested in the recent State Election but it has won the hearts of 43,101 voters.
Speaking at a press conference here today, its president, Voon Lee Shan said the 43,101 votes that the party’s candidates received showed that the “people in Sarawak believe in our cause to set Sarawak free and independent from the Federation of Malaysia through peaceful and legal means.”
“For PBK to set Sarawak free and independent (sic) is to win in the election. Although we did not win any seat during the 12th State Election, we have won the hearts of the 43,101 Sarawakians (who voted for us),” he said.
Voon added that the party had planted the seeds of freedom and independence and it showed that the people could not be enticed with money, position and false promises.
He said they prayed that the 43,101 voters who voted for PBK will be agents to help the party spread awareness about its aims so that in the next State election, the party will gain victory and form the State government.
“Once we are able to form the State government, this will give us the power and authority from the people to negotiate peacefully to exit from the Federation of Malaysia,” he said.
Voon said the way forward for the independence of Sarawak is by unilateral independence and PBK had initiated legal action on November 24, 2021, before the court.
“We have filed a summons against the federal government and the United Kingdom and Sarawak government for several declarations before the court. One of the declarations is to declare the Malaysia Agreement 1963 as null and void. If the court determines that the MA63 is null and void, then Malaysia shall be dissolved or disintegrated. Then this is the way we can get out of Malaysia,” he said.
If the federal government refuses to grant the State independence, and if “our demand for certain terms are not met within a time frame, we can declare unilateral independence,” Voon claimed.
PBK, he said, is prepared to comply with all international laws to seek independence for Sarawak.
“There is nothing wrong under the law to declare independence unilaterally. It cannot amount to treason. It cannot amount to sedition. The government cannot simply use any law to stop us,” he said.
Among those present were PBK’s deputy chairman Peli Aron, secretary-general Priscilla Lau and Jamie Tiew, the party’s candidate for Pelawan in the recent State election.
On Nov 24, PBK had filed a legal suit in the Kuching High Court over the validity of Malaysia Agreement 1963. — DayakDaily
