SUPP: Lawsuit ‘a victory to the people of Sarawak’.

KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) has described the Federal Court’s decision on Petronas’ lawsuit against Sarawak government as ‘a victory to the people of Sarawak’.

“Many thanks to our Sarawak legal team for their diligent and learned homework,” said the party in a press statement issued after its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting here yesterday.

SUPP, howver, said the Sarawak government ‘must continue to be on our guard and be ready to safeguard Sarawak’s rights’ despite the Federal Court’s decision.

“We should anticipate more threats to our rights to come in the near future”.

The oldest political party in Sarawak also said the victory had proved that the London trip was not a waste as previously claimed by Democratic Action Party (DAP).

“They (DAP) previously claimed that if PH (Pakatan Harapan) were in power, they would not even need negotiations to get back our rights.

“However, at this critical Petronas legal suit moment, they not only went silent, but instead stood by Petroleum Development Act (PDA) 1974, and said no good words to support Sarawak government in the suit.

“Worse still, DAP even misled Sarawakians to continue to believe and put blame on our past Sarawak government elected representatives for ‘signing away’ our rights,” said the statement.

Through this Petronas lawsuit episode, SUPP said ‘we see clearly that DAP is a mere Malayan party that is not on our Sarawak side’.

SUPP said no individual official or any laws could diminish, take away or change the sovereignty rights that belonged to Sarawak and Sarawakians.

“Our rights are our rights. Sarawakians must unite to protect and fight for our rights. Sarawakians need to be aware that many are all out not only to continue to share what’s ours but to try and take them away from us and our future generations.”

On Friday, the Federal Court dismissed Petronas’ application for leave to commence proceedings against the Sarawak government.