Sarawakians in danger of losing rights if PH wins state election, warns Masing

Masing (seated fourth right) hosting community leaders from Kapit in his office in Kuching. On Masing's left is Elvis.

KUCHING, Feb 26: If Pakatan Harapan (PH) takes over Sarawak in the next state election, there is a high possibility that four non-negotiables in forming the Federation of Malaysia based on Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) would be compromised, warned Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing.

He explained that under MA63, the four items that were non-negotiable were the Sarawak constitution; immigration autonomy; the size of Sarawak cannot be reduced including its sea limits; and its oil and gas under its seas and land.

“We must never let these assets to fall to Putrajaya. If PH takes control of Sarawak then all the above may disappear through the process of laws passed in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN). Therefore, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) must stop PH from taking control of our DUN.

“Therefore, the 2021 election is of prime importance in safeguarding what is there for Sarawak,” Masing told community leaders who paid him a courtesy call at his office here yesterday, according to a press release.

He said the community leaders were stunned when they realised why the next state election to be held by 2021 was of great importance to Sarawakians.

“It (the takeover) will not only be a change of government, but a sweeping change of legislation where Sarawak will stand to lose everything to Putrajaya!” he warned.

The delegation of community leaders from Kapit was led by Kapit District Officer Elvis Didit.

The current DUN will expire in 2021, five years after the last state election was held on May 2016.

Presently, GPS controls 72 out of 82 seats in the DUN. — DayakDaily