Sapa-S4S protest ‘lack of transparency’ over Article 1(2) amendment Bill

KUCHING: Sarawak Association for Peoples' Aspiration (Sapa) and Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) staged a brief demonstration at Padang Merdeka here yesterday over the ‘lack of transparency' of the proposed amendment to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution.

The 30-minute gathering saw the 200-odd members of the two groups display banners, placards and old Sarawak flags while chanting various slogans.

Event organising chairman KC Tan said the joint Sapa-S4S event was to express their displeasure at the proposed amendment Bill which was tabled in Parliament last Thursday.

"Our hope is that the federal government listens (to us), and to let our PM (Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) know that we are unhappy with this Bill.

“It is not transparent and thus, we support (the move by) Gabungan Parti Sarawak (members of parliament) in not signing it,” he said.

Tan also expressed his hope that Sarawakians will support the movement so that Sarawak's rights are returned as per the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

"We (Sarawak) want to be recognised as a sovereign state and not just one of the states in the Federation of Malaysia. Sarawak is a country and MA63 cannot exist if we are not a country. Now with the amendment, we are even lower – from state to territory. This is not fair,” he said.

The demonstration was led by S4S activist Hanim Jeraee, who spoke to participants using a loud hailer. Among those present were former Padungan assemblyman Dominique Ng and Sapa publicity and information chief Peter John Jaban.