STAR to focus on 3 main issues in by-election
KUCHING: State Reform Party Sarawak ( STAR) will focus on three main issues in the Tanjong Datu by- election, albeit on a lowkey approach.
Its president Lina Soo said the party will keep to its manifesto for the state election last year while emphasising on fulfilment of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 ( MA63), recognition of ‘pemakai menoa’ and ‘ pulau galau’ and healthcare (no to the ‘ Tangki Biru’ – Blue Tank).
“These three issues are very close to our heart; we will be campaigning hard on these three issues on a low-key but dignified approach,” she said at a press conference in Telang Usan Hotel here yesterday.
Commenting further, Soo said the party would continue its core struggle for compliance with MA63, and there was no need for negotiation because the points had been agreed upon and enshrined; stressing it should be implemented immediately.
On ‘pemakai menoa’ and ‘pulau galau’, she said they should be
These are customary rights, and customary rights should be recognised although they were never written in law, and this has been the practice by the natives for hundreds of years.
recognised as NCR land as the natives had been cultivating these lands for hundreds of years even before the formation of Malaysia.
“These are customary rights, and customary rights should be recognised although they were never written in law, and this has been the practice by the natives for hundreds of years.”
Soo also expressed her concern on the usage of the blue tanks that are made of plastic materials.
“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that plastic would degrade over time,” she said.
She added that these plastic tanks issued by politicians when elections approach would eventually release harmful chemicals that are detrimental to health after 10 years because they are kept outside and exposed to the hot sun.
On the low- key approach, Soo said this was a gesture of respect for the late chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.
“We really appreciate what he had done within just a short period of time,” she added.
When asked if Adenan’s widow Datin Patinggi Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu could continue his legacy, Soo said: “Only the chief minister has the power to continue Adenan’s legacy and from now onwards, the future of Sarawak lies in the hands of Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg.”
While admitting that her party has a slim chance of winning the by- election, Soo hoped that this time around the party would finally have a voice in the State Legislative Assembly.
But at the same time, she regarded the Tanjong Datu byelection as a warm-up for STAR to face the impending general
Lina Soo, STAR president
election
During the press conference, STAR unveiled its new logo which had been approved by the Registrar of Societies.
STAR Tanjong Datu byelection candidate Johnny Bob Aput, STAR women chief Sylvia John and STAR supreme council member Alvin Voon were present.
Johnny, who is also STAR chairman, will be contesting against Barsian Nasional ( BN) candidate Jamilah and Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru ( PBDS Baru) candidate Rapelson Richard Hamit.