Content no longer — CM
Sarawak will not tolerate having its development behind that of other states any more
KUCHING: Sarawak is no longer content being behind other states in the country after over 50 years of independence in Malaysia.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem said “we do not want to be in a position where after over 50 years in Malaysia”, schools in the state remained without electricity and treated water supply, while roads were unfi nished or there was no access at all.
“If it is 20 years or 30 years, we do not mind. But it is 53 years, more than half a century, we cannot tolerate it anymore.
“Therefore, we ask the federal (government) to be more sympathetic when we question the rights for our resources. Because that is our rights,” he said during the inaugural official celebration of Sarawak Day graced by Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud yesterday.
Adenan called on Sarawakians to rally behind his team to further pursue autonomy for the state.
If it is 20 years or 30 years, we do not mind. But it is 53 years, more than half a century, we cannot tolerate it anymore. Therefore, we ask the federal (government) to be more sympathetic when we question the rights for our resources. Because that is our rights. Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, Chief Minister
“I hope we have the support of the people. Be a bit more patient and stay behind us while we fight for your rights,” he said.
Adenan pointed out there had been response from the federal government, with a committee formed by the federal attorney general and state attorney general to work out the details.
He conceded that while Sarawak was an equal partner in the formation Malaysia, “there has been a constant erosion of the power given to us by the federal government over the last 50 years”, which he said was due to either “ignorance or neglect or allocation of power”.
“We are now claiming our rights originally given to us way back in 1963. And I dare say that those officials from Kuala Lumpur were not even born in 1963.
“And they are ignorant of this. It is therefore our duty to remind them of the agreement. It is our duty therefore to remind them again and again to preserve the federation as it was conceived in 1963,” he stressed.
Adenan said Sabah might also follow suit and “claim their rights”.
“But we must fight for our own. And I hope that we have results before the end of this year, if not some time next year,” he said.
He explained that the declaration of Sarawak Day was to show that Sarawakians were thankful to their predecessors who fought for independence.
Adenan said the state later chose to be a part of Malaysia “as an independent partner and that is why we have entered the agreement. Our job therefore is to be proud of being Sarawakians”.
“We preserve our dignity as the people, fight for our rights so that others will know. And study in detail the recommendations and confide in our friends in Peninsular Malaysia so that they will know what happened 53 years ago. And I hope they will appreciate our position and come to a conclusion in the next two to three years,” he said.
Adenan added he was pleased to note members of the opposition accepted the invitation to attend the Sarawak Day celebration as “we are all together, the government and the opposition, in fighting for our rights as Sarawakians”.
“Thank you for coming today. And I hope in future occasions, you will do the same. There is another group, I believe, who celebrated Sarawak Day in some other place. This is what I’d like to say: we subscribe to what you subscribe to, we have no disagreement before that.”
“But if you advocate cessation, our answer is no. Our position is no cessation – Malaysia before, Malaysia now and Malaysia forever in the future. So ladies and gentlemen, let us strive for a better future and then an equal place in the federation,” he said.
Among those present were Adenan’s wife Datin Patinggi Datuk Jamilah Anu; Taib’s wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Raghad Kurdi Taib; Deputy Chief Ministers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing and Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg; and Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.