S4S: Referendum Act, Ordinance will give voice to people over major issues

KUCHING: Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) southern zone is calling for the introduction of a Referendum Act and Referendum Ordinance to allow citizens to have a say over major issues, like the recent petroleum resources ownership dispute.

Its spokesperson KC Tan said the Referendum Act and Referendum Ordinance will allow the people to decide what will be in their best interest.

“Many countries across the globe practise referendum and they let the people decide what they want. If Malaysia has a Referendum Act, then the Petronas issue can be put to a vote,” he said at a press conference here yesterday.

A referendum is the principle or practice of submitting to popular vote a measure passed on or proposed by a legislative body or by popular initiative.

Petronas recently filed a suit in the Federal Court to seek confirmation over its exclusive ownership of petroleum resources in the nation, including Sarawak.

As far as the Petronas issue is concerned, Tan asserted that it is fair for citizens of Malaysia, particularly Sarawak, to be allowed to decide on the subject matter.

Former Padungan assemblyman and lawyer Dominique Ng, who was present at the press conference, concurred that it is high time for Malaysia to have a Referendum Act or, for Sarawak, a Referendum Ordinance.

He said the Sarawak government could reintroduce the practice of referendum by reinstating local council elections across the state, as was previously practised during the 1950s.

“If I’m not mistaken, it was 1955 and elections of local councils were called two to three times. The system back then was electing the local councils first, then the State Legislative Assembly and the Parliament.