Fear tactic would not work in Sarawak, says Lau

SIBU: SUPP Bawang Assan Branch head Robert Lau Hui Yew said the fear tactics of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would not work in Sarawak.

In a press statement yesterday, he said Sarawakians would listen to the aspirations of Sarawakians, adding we are proud of our heritage and history. He said instilling fear to ensure Sarawakians toe the line from Putrajaya might backfire.

“This is my response to the recent statement made by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, acting deputy president of Umno. It is true that in Sarawak history has shown how Sarawakians always uphold their beliefs – the motto of ‘agi idup agi ngelaban’.”

He said it was therefore serious to contemplate that upholding Sarawak rights was considered seditious and the full extent of the law would be used on ‘transgressors’.

“As a lawyer, it has to be highlighted that the Sedition Act 1948 is no longer enforceable in Sarawak. It was gazetted for enforcement in Sarawak during the State of Emergency on 29 November 1969. The State of Emergency was lifted by the prime minister on 24 November 2011.”

With the lifting of the State of Emergency, all gazettes issued during the State of Emergency had became void, Lau added.

Lau believed the ‘culprit’ who created intense friction between Sarawak and Putrajaya was Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, who belittled the importance of the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

“This is contrary to statements made by the leaders in Sabah and Sarawak pertaining to MA63. The statement about the importance of the MA63 by the Chief Justice of Sabah and Sarawak and even the prime minister acknowledges the existence and importance of MA63.”

At the opening of the recent PBS Congress in Kota Kinabalu, he said the prime minister was quoted as saying that anyone in Sabah and Sarawak was free to talk about the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and he would not arrest them.

However, on Dec 4, he said Ahmad Zahid clearly took the opposite stand by saying he would come down hard on people who talk about Sabah for Sabahans and Sarawak for Sarawakians.

“According to Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, this call is an attempt to incite the people and may lead to anarchy and national instability.

“The people in Sarawak especially those from Sibu look at the statements made by these leaders as cracks appearing among the leadership in Putrajaya.”

He said even when there were misunderstandings, these should be discussed amicably within closed doors and not bringing it out in the open.