Clare asked to probe why Sarawak’s rights not protected
KUCHING: Former soldier Fabian Wong is seeking the prowess of investigative reporter and Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown to probe on the alleged failure of the then British government on the follow-up of the formation of Malaysia and its investigation.
He said Sarawakians and Sabahans are longing to tell her to look into the British government’s obligation to Sarawak and Sabah as well as the safeguard of these two minority territories in Malaysia.
“She should be starting her investigation into the British failure in respect of the role played by the British in the formation of Malaysia at the expense of Sabah and Sarawak.
“For instance, what did the British do when Singapore, one of the signatories of the Federation of Malaysia, kicked herself out from Malaysia? Was the departure legal? When all the Singapore parliamentary seats were given to Malaya, tilting the scale in favour of the majority, why didn’t the British raise the issue? When Sarawak and Sabah were reduced to states, why didn’t the British raise a question it was not right?”
Wong claimed that when there was no balance of power and Sarawak and Sabah were further reduced in percentage against Malaya to 25:75 per cent of parliamentary seats, the British kept quiet.
“Now we should ask Clare to research for the truth and tell us what has happened to British government’s failure in safeguarding Sabah and Sarawak, considering she has interests in Sarawak,” Wong said, admitting that Rewcastle-Brown is a very good investigative journalist.
However Wong – a former member of the Malaysian and Sarawak Rangers - believed that she might find the investigation on the formation of Malaysia difficult in many ways.
Wong said he believed the then British government had erred and because of that Sarawak and Sabah are the least developed states in Malaysia and not treated as partners.
Wong said: “Whatever, something went very wrong. There was no check and balance for Sabah and Sarawak in the Malaysian equation. From 51 per cent share on parliamentary seats of the minorities (Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak), Sabah and Sarawak ended with 25 per cent against Malaya’s 75 per cent when Singapore was kicked out.”
Rewcastle-Brown’s famous exploit is investigation of the 1MDB scandal that led to the investigation on the alleged power abuses and corruption of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.