KUCHING, Oct 1: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Women chief Kho Teck Wan is greatly disappointed with Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Hannah Yeoh’s call over the weekend for Sarawakians to do away with the Sarawak for Sarawakians sentiment.
“Her statement on Sarawak for Sarawakians sentiment showed her lack of understanding about Sarawak’s history and politics. If Yeoh is sincerely worried about the Sarawak for Sarawakians sentiment further discriminating Malaysians regionally, then perhaps she (Yeoh) should take time to find out the source of such a sentiment,” said Kho in a press statement today.
Saying she was aware of Yeoh’s intention to curb discrimination, Kho suggested that the deputy minister look into the distortion of Malaysia’s history in primary school textbooks, the right of Sarawak and Sabah to reclaim their rights as equal partners in the federation, and the right of Sarawak to have equal development for being the largest producer of natural oil and gas in the country.
“Sarawak for Sarawakians is an awareness movement, where Sarawakians learn and fight for Sarawak’s rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“There is nothing wrong in fighting for what is ours. Let’s start building as a nation by honouring the MA63. After all, there is no Malaysia without the agreement, and there is no Malaysia without Sarawak,” Kho pointed out.
On Yeoh’s suggestion that since Sarawak has seven times more reserves in the bank than Selangor and, therefore, should not depend entirely on the federal government to develop education, Kho countered that education was a federal responsibility.
“Sarawakians pay federal taxes just like (taxpayers in) any other state in Malaysia; hence, it expects the federal government to fulfil its responsibility. Sarawak should not be punished because the government has better financial planning than Selangor.
“The Sarawak government even proposed an RM1 billion loan to the federal government this year to upgrade dilapidated schools in the state. If the federal government is unable to manage education, please expedite the return of education autonomy to Sarawak as promised under the Pakatan Harapan Sarawak’s election manifesto,” suggested Kho. — DayakDaily
