Speaker urged to accept STAR president’s open debate

KOTA SAMARAHAN: Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB) urged Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia to accept the challenge from State Reform Party (STAR) president Lina Soo and not back out from his open debate challenge.

According to the party’s president Cobbold John Lusoi, Pandikar should accept the challenge from STAR instead of challenging the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg since Soo has answered Pandikar’s call for debate.

By challenging the Chief Minister, it means that Pandikar is challenging the entire Sarawak in general and Pandikar should know he is not qualified to do so, being merely a dewan speaker, to challenge an esteemed Chief Minister of Sarawak.

“It seems that Pandikar is intentionally ignoring STAR for accepting his open challenge for MA63. He (Pandikar) should know well not to stir up unnecessary sentiments if he is not well verse in the matters of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” he added.

To make matters worse, Cobbold also said that Pandikar even dare to challenge the Sarawak Chief Minister after Pandikar acknowledged that Abang Johari disagrees with his statement about the non-importance of MA63.

Cobbold thus said that Pandikar should stop diverting his directives by using his challenge to Abang Johari or stir up propaganda using the Chief Minister as an excuse.

As he must not forget that he also a Sabahan, and that Sabahans are pursuing the same issue as well. PBDSB thus hoped that Pandikar would not opt out from his open debate challenge which was officially accepted by Soo and bring shame to all Sabahans.

Not accepting the challenge gives the impression that he is afraid that a lady president might humiliate him during the debate.

Meanwhile Cobbold also opined that if Sarawak Chief Minister disagrees with the views by Pandikar, it is essential to take prompt action towards the MA63 issue.

“This is not something which is to be politicized about but rather an urgent issue for the rights of every Sarawakian which need to be uphold. The matters had been delayed 54 long years and action need to be taken soon by the Chief Minister and his team to resolve the matter before more busy body like Pandikar use such matters as a political propaganda,” he said.