KUCHING, July 20: Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) prohibits individuals or groups participating in its 722 Parade this Sunday from wearing political party shirts or carrying banners related to any political party.
S4S spokesperson KC Tan said this was one of the conditions set by the Kuching District Police after the organisation was granted a permit to carry out its 722 Parade from Reservoir Park to Padang Merdeka here.
“This morning, I received approval and a permit from the Kuching police to carry out our 722 Parade. I have submitted our programme and planned activities for that day to the police as well as to the Kuching North City Commission (DBKU).
“One of the conditions that we will also strictly enforce is no political party shirts and logos,” he told a press conference at Hui Sing here this afternoon.
Tan also stressed that the S4S 722 Parade was not in any way affiliated to or co-organised by Solidarity Anak Sarawak (SAS) founder Peter John Jaban nor State Reform Party Sarawak (STAR) president Lina Soo as reported by some local dailies recently.
“We do not approve of any political parties participating in the parade. If found, we will have to chase them out. However, anybody can participate in the parade as long as they don’t wear party shirts,” he told reporters.
On the programme for the S4S 722 Parade, he said the participants would start gathering at the Reservoir Park from 6am, and they would walk along McDougall Road to Padang Merdeka around 9am.
He said a big crowd was expected as not only individual participants would be there. Some 800 cyclists and 40 vintage Vespa owners would be present, too.
“The cyclists will be escorted by the police and will only participate in the parade as they have to go to the Celebration Square near Stadium Negri to participate in the state government’s main 722 Sarawak Independence Day parade there,” said Tan.
At around 10am at Padang Merdeka, the celebration will begin with the singing of the national and state anthems, followed by an opening speech by the S4S 722 Parade organising chairman Dinis Repong.
Dinis would be speaking on the demands of Sarawakians, particularly on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and rejecting Peninsular Malaysia-based parties, especially Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) from entering Sarawak.
“As Sarawakians, we should stand up and participate in this Sarawak Independence Day (S4S 722) parade and ceremony. Please use this opportunity to shout out your ‘angerness’ that has been accumulating for over half a century to the governments and international societies,” he said. — DayakDaily
