KUCHING, Feb 13: Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB) Youth chief Rapelson Richard Hamit has described Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s speech during the recent Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Convention as “political redemption”.
In a statement today, Rapelson said Najib had promised to return the rights of Sarawak under Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). Najib had said that any of Sarawak’s rights which were taken, whether intentionally or unintentionally, will be undoubtedly returned to the state and its people. He was also reported as making a similar promise when he officiated at Sarawak United Peoples’ Party’s (SUPP) triennial delegates conference two months ago.
“However, Najib also insisted on two conditions, that is, no cessation from the Federation of Malaysia and hs also demanded that the people of Sarawak fully support the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.
“There is no requirement or any provision in the Malaysian legislation to state that support for BN will restore Sarawak’s rights in the deprovisioned Malaysia Agreement 1963. This is a ‘political hostage’ situation and an act that does not respect the position of Sabah and Sarawak as partners in the formation of Malaysia,” Rapelson said.
Rapelson said that Sabah and Sarawak’s rights were enshrined in MA63 and therefore questioned Najib’s credibility as Prime Minister.
“The parties involved in the formation of Malaysia were United Kingdom, Federation of Malaya (Malaya), North Borneo (Sabah), Sarawak and Singapore.
“Najib was not one of the parties involved, there is no Najib or BN in MA63. He is just a Prime Minister entrusted with the task of administering Malaysia and appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” Rapelson said.
He added, Sarawak’s rights should be returned before the 14th General Election (GE14), otherwise it would be just another empty political promise.
When contacted, PBDSB president Cobbold John Lusoi also condemned Najib’s statement as a political threat. — DayakDaily
