SADONG JAYA, Jan 18: Sarawak is not a state but one of the countries along with Sabah and Malaya that formed Malaysia in 1963, said Assistant Minister of Coastal Road Datuk Julaihi Narawi.
“Sarawak is a country, which should be in equal partnership status with Peninsular Malaysia,” he addressed the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Flag Rally programme at the market compound here today.
“This is the reason why GPS wants to reinstate Sarawak’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), which have been eroded.”
Sarawak cannot depend on the federal government anymore, he stressed, pointing to the many development projects that had been cancelled, stalled or delayed.
“And yet Works Minister Baru Bian from Sarawak cannot even do a thing when Pakatan Harapan (PH) government just let go of the bridge projects.
“Now GPS government has taken over the projects for Batang Rambungan, Batang Igan and Batang Lupar, which are supposedly funded by the PH federal government. As well as the Long Lama Bridge, which is expected to be completed this year,” he added.
These efforts, Julaihi emphasised, reflected the GPS government’s commitment to developing the rural and coastal areas of Sarawak with infrastructure because they were of vital importance for the socio-economic growth and development of the country.
As such, getting Sarawak’s rights back, Julaihi said, would enable Sarawak to strengthen its economic position and use the revenues earned from its resources, particularly oil and gas, to further develop Sarawak.
“PH is just like what the late Tun Datuk Patinggi Temenggong Jugah Barieng said ‘Anang Malaysia baka tebu, manis dipun tabar di hujung’, which means ‘Let’s hope that Malaysia will not end up like sugarcane, sweet in the beginning but become tasteless in the end.”
Echoing the words of Julaihi, Sadong Jaya assemblyman Aidel Lariwoo reminded the people of the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem’s advice to Sarawakians not to be a fool who closed their eyes when people grab away Sarawak’s rights and resources.
“But I believe that all of you from Sadong Jaya, Gedong, Simunjan and Sebuyau will give your strongest support to GPS to fight until the end to protect the rights and interests of Sarawak,” he said.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth chief Gerald Rentap Jabu is leading the GPS Flag Rally on a nine-day road trip to introduce GPS new hornbill logo and song across the state. Sadong Jaya is the 20th stop before heading to Kota Samarahan on the last day of their journey today.
The entire event will wrap up with the official launching of GPS by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg tomorrow (Jan 19) at Stadium Perpaduan in Kuching. — DayakDaily
