KUCHING, May 12: Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) urges the newly elected Sarawakian Members of Parliament to ensure that Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) is implemented in full as part of this new Malaysia.
Peter John Jaban of S4S also reminded the Pakatan Harapan government to honour its promise of 20 per cent royalty to Sarawak.
“We welcome the new PH federal government. At last our nation can begin to rebuild some of the terrible divisions and damage done to it. But the treatment of the Borneo States must be high on that agenda.
“PH is on record multiple times promising that it will provide more autonomy and greater development to both Sabah and Sarawak under MA63. The giant campaign posters still standing around Kuching boldly promise a 20 per cent oil royalty should they win.
“Now, they have won, thanks in part to the support of thousands of Sarawak voters as part of this Malaysia-wide tsunami. They must show us that they intend to make good on those promises,” he said in a statement yesterday.
He pointed out that PH has listed institutional reforms, end of corruption, repealing of punitive and oppressive legislation, reforming media and other pillars of democracy, and rebuilding Malaysia’s economy and public image as tasks that needed to be carried out. He questioned why Sarawak and Sabah’s rights under MA63 was not listed as priorities.
“The new federal government must look to its promises. The ten new Sarawakian PH MPs must make sure that their coalition stands by those promises to their own home state in this new Malaysia. The 19 Barisan National (BN) MPs find themselves in opposition and they must fulfill that role in fighting for our rights.
“Our Sarawak state government must engage immediately with the new federal government on behalf of the 2.7 million citizens under their care. These are not the dark days of BN under which entire state can be marginalized. Now is the time to set things right. No more waiting!” said Peter John.
He said PH’s win has created a new paradigm for Malaysian politics. It is seen as not just the toppling of a government which has held office for 60 years.
“The end of UMNO rule is seen as the start of a genuinely multi-racial and inclusive Malaysia in which the racial and religious divisions so long used in our country for political gain might become a thing of the past.
“PH must show that there will be no further marginalization of any citizens, whether on political, racial, religious or regional grounds. Recognition of Sarawak and Sabah’s rights, as already negotiated under MA63 as our conditions for forming Malaysia, must be central to that — a symbol of intent in this new Malaysia,” said Peter John. — DayakDaily
