By Nigel Edgar
KUCHING, Oct 12: Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) has had enough of both the federal and state governments keeping mum over their demands for Sarawak to adopt the Referendum Act.
As such, the group intends to not only organise a `Sarexit Rally’ this Nov 5 at the Kuching Waterfront but also publicise their demands to the international media and to the United Nations (UN).
They intend to tell the international media and the UN that the state and federal governments had ignored their pleas even though they had collected about 260,000 signatures in a public petition. The petition was later submitted to the state government and the UN in July 2016.
“Many people are confused. Sarexit (Rally) is just a gathering, inviting Sarawakians from all over the state to participate. A lot of times the state government said to fight for Sarawak’s right as per MA63 (Malaysia Agreement 1963).
“Only talk, never do (so far). So on that day, if you don’t agree to a referendum, we will vote you out in the next state election (both Pakatan Harapan and Gabungan Parti Sarawak),” said S4S spokesperson Tan Kok Chiang during a press conference here today.
Tan reckoned that the government’s effort to muffle the people’s voice would only make it louder, now that many Sarawakians are aware of their rights.
“The government suppressing people means Malaysia is moving forward to another suppressing administration. No openness like the previous government under Najib’s time,” he said, in reference to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Meanwhile, Sarexit Rally committee president Chong Shin Hua said the rally would coincide with the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting to catch the attention of the state’s elected representatives.
“We want to deliver a message to the state and federal governments. We will go all out this time. This is democracy,” he said.
Chong revealed that he and the organising committee members met the police this morning, but the police rejected their application for a permit for the rally.
He said the excuse given was that Sarexit was “seditious and very sensitive”.
“We will heed the law and advice given by the police. We will continue to talk with the police and update Sarawakians on the rally,” said Chong.
He added Sarawakians from all over the state was welcome to participate in the rally.
S4S also prepared two videos for their proposed Sarexit Rally campaign to be uploaded to Youtube and distributed to the international medias, Chong added. — DayakDaily
