KUCHING, Jan 12: State Reform Party Sarawak (STAR) has challenged Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How to table a proposal for a Sarawak Independence Referendum Ordinance in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly sitting in May this year.
According to STAR president Lina Soo in a statement, this is to put right See’s misrepresentation of the referendum law in Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sittings in the past.
Responding to a news report in a Chinese daily, Soo asserted See misread the sentiments of the people when the latter said he had proposed a referendum law in DUN but it was rejected by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
“Does See know the difference between referendum law and independence referendum legislation? There is a difference because there is no need to have a referendum law to enable Sarawak to hold an independence referendum.
“This is because the lawmaking powers of DUN can enact the specific legislation – Sarawak Independence Referendum Ordinance – to be passed,” Soo asserted.
She claimed there are numerous countries in the world which do not have a referendum law in their constitutions but they have conducted independence referendums, including the United States of America which was the first country in the world to hold an independence referendum in Massachusetts in 1788 when there was no existing referendum law.
She also cited Norway as not having a have referendum law in its constitution but held an independence referendum on 13 August 1905 to split from Sweden with 99 per cent of the people voting ‘yes’.
Indonesia was also cited as having no referendum law but had conducted an independence referendum for Timor Leste in 1999.
Soo therefore challenged and urged See to be brave and specific in moving a motion for a Sarawak Independence Referendum Ordinance in DUN to be supported by his elected comrades in Pakatan Harapan.
“Only then See can claim which are the parties and politicians that support or are against, instead of finger-pointing, and creating political drama,” she added. — DayakDaily
