KUCHING, July 22: Former Padungan assemblyman Dominique Ng holds the view that it is not wrong for Sarawak to demand real independence.
Quoting Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) activist Zainnal Ajamain, Ng said since Sarawak had joined the Federation of Malaysia voluntarily, the state could also leave in the same manner.
“What we actually want is ‘real independence’. One thing that Zainnal pointed out … we joined voluntarily to form the Federation of Malaysia. We can also voluntarily come out of it, like Singapore.
“There is nothing wrong to say ‘Sarawak desires Independence’,” Ng, who was at the Sarawak for Sarawakians’ (S4S) 722 Gathering, told DayakDaily today.
He believed 722 (July 22) was set as Sarawak Independence Day by former Chief Minister, the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem (Tok Nan), for a purpose.
“Like Zainnal said, he (Tok Nan) mischievously set 722 as Sarawak Independence Day. He (Tok Nan) intended to send a message,” opined Ng.
He explained that was why it was not wrong for S4S to shout the slogan “Merdeka”, which to him meant real independence and not just self-determination.
“Today is Sarawak’s Independence Day. The Sarawak government may down play the word ‘Merdeka’, but it was officially declared by Tok Nan.
“Of course, it is controversial whether Sarawak had achieved full independence. The fact that Tok Nan chose the word ‘independence’ signifies the aspiration of the people of Sarawak,” he asserted.
On why the Crown Flag was hoisted and the former State Anthem — Fair Land Sarawak — was sung, Ng explained that the Crown Flag was the original flag of Sarawak.
“It was the flag used before Sarawak joined the Federation of Malaysia. There were five pointed tips on the crown. They represented the five divisions Sarawak had then,” he said. — DayakDaily
