By Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, July 22: Restore Sarawak’s sovereignty as an independent nation and equal partner status within Federation of Malaysia, said Sarawak Association for Peoples’ Aspiration (Sapa) president Dominique Ng.
Speaking to reporters during the Sapa flag raising ceremony held in conjunction with the 59th anniversary of the Sarawak Day celebrations at Padang Merdeka today, Ng said the Sarawak government has recently adopted a stance where it contends that Sarawak is not just a state under the Federation of Malaysia.
According to Ng, although the Federal Constitution has been amended to restore Sarawak back to its Borneo State status, it is not sufficient because Borneo State has different connotations.
“We were an independent nation and we wish to become an independent nation but within a broader confederation of Malaysia.
“The rights must be restored fully, that is what we are fighting for,” he said.
Meanwhile, commenting on the old Rajah Brooke’s flag and old Sarawak national anthem ‘Fairland Sarawak’, Ng, who is former Padungan assemblyman, said the song and the flag are very symbolic of Sarawak.
He pointed out that both were Sarawak’s original flag and anthem until Malaysia was formed.
“It is not an illegal song and flag as some people said; this is nonsense. Only people who do not know the history of Sarawak will tell you this,” he added.
“I want to repeat, Sarawak as an independent nation has existed longer under the old Sarawak flag and its anthem the song Fairland Sarawak,” he explained.
The flag raising ceremony started at about 9.20am.
Despite some light rain, it did not dampen the spirits of the small group of participants singing the Fairland Sarawak anthem while both current Sarawak flag and Crown Flag were raised. — DayakDaily
