Dayak NGO hails success of fact-finding mission to London
MIRI: Sarawakians, especially the Dayaks, are proud of the team sent by Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg to London on a fact-finding mission to uncover recently declassified documents on Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and other relevant reports on Sarawak’s rights in the Federation of Malaysia.
The team was led by Assistant Minister of Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali.
Baba Emperan, the chairman of Pemansang Dayak (PD), expressed his joy over the findings by the team, saying it would help Sarawak regain its autonomy, particularly in further protecting Dayak rights.
“At the same time, we also urge the Chief Minister to continue his sincerity in handling issues on autonomy and urge Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to return Sarawak’s rights to Sarawak, and to realise the words and dreams of our late Chief Minister Tok Nan (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem),” Baba said.
Pemansang Dayak is a nongovernment organisation (NGO) that champions the rights, welfare and the wellbeing of the Dayak community.
PD vice chairman Jeffry Unggat, meanwhile, was glad that that the fact-finding team had succeeded in discovering some important documents, which had brought relief to the people of Sarawak.
“This is good news, especially for the Dayaks who have been fighting for Dayak rights for so long, especially their native customary rights over land,” he said.
Its secretary Ernie Jimmy shared the same sentiment, saying that the move to uncover the documents pertaining to MA63 had united the people, including those with different political views.
“This is indirectly signalling to the Malaysian government that Sarawakians can unite, even though we are from different political parties and principles, especially when it comes to our rights, in relation to MA63,” said Ernie.
PD believes that the success of team in uncovering the documents has opened up opportunities for Sarawak to get back its rights, especially over oil royalty as well as the Territorial Sea Act, 2012.