Najib's assurance of restoring state's right a blackmail – special assistant

KUCHING: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's recent assurance on restoring Sarawak's rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) on the condition of no talks of Sarawak seceding from Malaysia and Sarawakians must support Barisan Nasional (BN) has been termed as a 'blackmail'.

The prime minister's statement made during the closing of Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP) triennial delegates conference last Saturday is even described as disrespecting Sarawakians and MA63.

"In his (Najib) address, he held the people of Sarawak to a ransom claiming he will only restore Sarawak's rights under MA63 on the condition that there are no talks of secession from Malaysia and that Sarawakians must support BN.

"This is an outright blackmail and a disrespect to the people of Sarawak as well as the principle of the international agreement," said Dr Kelvin Yii, a special assistant to Bandar Kuching MP and state Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen, in a press statement yesterday.

Dr Yii said Sarawak's rights under MA63 are 'not for him (Najib) to use as a political tool'.

"Fact of the matter is, it was the very same BN government that eroded our rights over the years in the first place, and yet he (Najib) had the nerve to set conditions for their return.

"This is akin to a thief coming to your house to steal your belongings and then setting conditions for the return of the belongings that is rightfully yours," he said.