SAS founder hits out at detractors who question his motive
KUCHING: Solidariti Anak Sarawak (SAS) founder Peter John Jaban has hit out at those who in the past questioned his motive in raising awareness among Sarawakians regarding July 22.
The former Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) leader said all these years, his sole intention was to remind people in the state of the significance of being a Sarawakian.
“I have been attacked by numerous quarters and accused of receiving payoffs to the tune of millions of ringgit from almost every side – Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan and Gabungan Parti Sarawak,” he said in a statement to The Borneo Post in conjunction with Sarawak Day yesterday.
He also claimed that a public relations firm has admitted to him of being hired by a well-known personality to discredit him via untruths and rumours.
“And yet I have to endure accusations of being on his (personality) payroll. Beyond that, various figures looking to make a name for themselves in politics have taken to social media to attack me and S4S, questioning its motives and affiliations,” he added.
SAS, according to Peter, is an apolitical group formed following a split in S4S when groups with different political ideologies could no longer see eye-to-eye. It aims to act as an umbrella body for several smaller Sarawakian rights movement groups.
On his message to Sarawakians, he said even though July 22 was gazetted a public holiday by the late former chief minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, not many folk actually know what to do on the day other than “to enjoy another day off”.
“Sarawak Day is simple: restore our rights under MA63 (Malaysia Agreement 1963). Sarawak Day is being celebrated in a big way this year, and is being feted fully by numerous groups in different places, including the state government who is staging a massive event at the stadium.
“So, what is Sarawak Day for? It is a day for all Sarawakians to reflect on our shared interests, to remember the unique history and culture that made our state what it is and to focus ourselves on our common goal – the ongoing struggle to reclaim in full our rights and position under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 as a founding partner in this nation.
“This should be something that all Sarawakians agree on,” he stressed, adding the result of the last general election has turned Sarawak’s position within Malaysia into a key political issue.
Yesterday, Peter led SAS members in a Sarawak Day gathering at Tasik Biru in Bau, while S4S members held their own gathering at Padang Merdeka here.
The government’s Sarawak Day do was held at Celebration Square at Jalan Stadium in Petra Jaya.