KUCHING, Apr 7: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth chief Datuk Snowdan Lawan has called on Sabah leaders to reciprocate Sarawak’s efforts in fighting together as Borneo states to reinstate their rights.
“The spirit is to collaborate and share the burden on common issues.
“What our president (Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing) uttered, in all intent is in good faith and in the spirit of good neighbourhood rapport and not an interference,” he clarified in a statement today.
Snowdan was responding to Kadazan Dusun Murut Association (KDM) president Datuk Peter Anthony who had denied Masing’s claim that Sabah was taking the “wait and see” attitude towards fighting for their rights under Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and riding on Sarawak’s coattails all the time.
“I believe what our president said holds true and more importantly, was said in good faith only if KDM reciprocates similarly,” he said.
He pointed out that based on the chronology of events, Sabah had taken the wait and see approach in the fight for its rights.
“When Sarawak demanded for a Board Member in MAS (Malaysia Airlines), Sabah was silent. When our State Secretary sat on the Board, Sabah State Secretary was also accorded the same by (former prime minister) Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak too then. This was on Sarawak’s merits,” he recalled.
“Sabah needs to understand that they have to ask for it to be given,” he asserted.
Snowdan, who is also Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports, also highlighted on the bill tabled to amend the Constitution to restore Sabah’s and Sarawak’s rights as equal partners in Malaysia.
“When Sarawak wanted the clause ‘pursuant to MA63’ to be included and phrased into the Federal Constitution when it was tabled in the Parliament about a year ago, Sabah MPs (members of parliament) were not with us, though the motion was not passed anyway.
“Legally this was too important for both states to collaborate parallely to see it through as it was and common to both,” he pressed.
Snowdan also observed that Sabah was silent when Sarawak fought a hard legal battle against Petronas over the 5 per cent State Sales Tax on petroleum products.
“No doubt when they started initiating it (sales tax) now, again (Sabah is) riding on precedent from Sarawak, a gain without pain,” he added.—DayakDaily
