‘Zahid’s statement shows federal govt not taking MA63 seriously’

KUCHING: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s recent statement that the government would take stern action against those attempting to instigate the people using the slogans ‘ Sarawak for Sarawakians’ and ‘ Sabah for Sabahans’ only goes to show that the federal government is not serious when it comes to matters that are close to the heart of East Malaysians such as the Malaysia Agreement 1963 ( MA63), devolution of power and Sarawak autonomy.

State PKR vice chairman See Chee How said the statement only contradicted what Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had said in Penampang, Sabah recently, where he assured Sabahans and Sarawakians not to worry if they wanted to talk about issues such as MA63.

“He said that he will not put those who spoke openly about MA63 under ISA ( Internal Security Act). This was the assurance he made at the Parti Bersatu Sabah ( PBS) 32nd annual congress last month. So for Zahid to claim otherwise, it only shows that the federal government is not sincere in their promise when it was stated that they allow the people to state openly about MA63, devolution of power and Sarawak autonomy,” he told a press conference at the party’s headquarters here yesterday.

The Batu Lintang assemblyman also opined that the movement by Sarawak for Sarawakians and Sabah for Sabahans was mainly on MA63, Sarawak’s entitlement under Malaysia and so on.

“All these are talking about the rightful claim of Sarawak and Sabah in Malaysia.

“I don’t see anything wrong or as what Zahid is saying that they are advocating secession which I don’t think they (Sarawak for Sarawakians and Sabah for Sabahans) mentioned anything about that.”

See also reckoned that Zahid is not fit to be the country’s leader.

“To be the leader of the country, you must be able to stomach all these.

“What he is trying to do is suppress the voices of Sarawakians and Sabahans,” he said.

He added that when Zahid made this statement at an Umno general assembly, it further showed that Umno members were “really fascists”.

“They ( Umno) want to be in control of everything and the whole of Malaysia. That is wrong because Malaysia is supposed to be shared by everybody.

“He is showing that Umno is trying to be dominant of all Malaysians in Malaysia,” he said.

On Tuesday, Zahid told those present at the general assembly of Umno Wanita, Youth and Puteri movements at Putra World Trade Centre ( PWTC) Kuala Lumpur that those caught ‘ playing with fire’ by attempting to instigate the people with ‘ Sarawak for Sarawakians’ and ‘ Sabah for Sabahans’ could face severe punishment.

He said no one is above the law and the action by the groups concerned was very much against the Federal Constitution.