By Karen Bong
KUCHING, April 5: Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) has called on Sarawakians to unite and demand `Sarexit’ following an unfavourable Bill to amend Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution to make Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsula as equal partners.
Its spokesperson, KC Tan, said the proposed amendment Bill that was tabled for first reading in the Parliament yesterday was a letdown as it did not meet the demands of the people of Sarawak.
“We are shocked and concerned with the Bill. The wording should be the same with that of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) to indicate the States of Malaya and the States of Borneo, namely Sabah and Sarawak,” he told a press conference today.
“The amendment Bill, to our understanding, removed Sabah and Sarawak from the list of 13 states and placed them in a separate group. This shows that the status of Sabah and Sarawak is now lower than the 11 states in the peninsula.”
With this kind of development, Tan stressed that it was better for Sarawak to be on its own if the federal government continues to ignore Sabah and Sarawak as the founding nations of the Federation of Malaysia.
“This is not right. Our status should be restored to the original position as accorded in MA63. If not, we ask all Sarawakians to call for Sarexit before it is too late,” he said.
S4S echoed the suggestion by Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin that Sarawak should be stated as ‘Negara Sarawak’ and ‘Negara Sabah’ and not just as one of the states in the federation.
On Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s response towards the amendment Bill, Tan said they felt DAP Sarawak had been giving empty promises and performed poorly since the last general election on May 9, 2018.
“There is a lot of talking but nothing comes out of it. I think they have lost their credibility. People on the ground will know and the rakyat can judge for themselves,” he reckoned.
Meanwhile, S4S will be holding a flash mob this Sunday (April 7), starting at 9am, at Padang Merdeka to protest the amendment Bill and to demand no more lies from the federal government.
“No more negotiation. We want to be free. We want to leave. Sarexit!” the group added while encouraging the public, including political parties, to join the event. — DayakDaily
