Sarawakians urged to back Abang Johari over state’s rights

KUCHING: Sarawakians should support Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg who stands firm on defending the state’s rights.

Kota Samarahan Municipal Council chairman Peter Minos when giving his opinion said Sarawak’s rights must be fully respected and viewed Abang Johari’s recent statements on the non-negotiable rights of Sarawak as “very good, wise and brave too”.

“We do not disturb the federal government and other Peninsular Malaysian states’ rights. So why can’t this be reciprocated?

“I say enough is enough. The federal government must give back Sarawak’s powers as clearly spelt out in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 ( MA63) as soon as possible.

“No delaying and bluffing tactics,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Minos said the four nonnegotiable rights of Sarawak mentioned by the Chief Minister must stay non- negotiable. He said Sarawak would be finished if negotiation was allowed.

On Thursday, Abang Johari said Sarawak had brought up four non-negotiable rights during the inaugural meeting called on Dec 17 last year by the Federal Government Special Cabinet Committee on MA63.

The four non-negotiable rights are the state’s immigration autonomous rights; Sarawak’s right to enforce state ordinances in accordance with the Federal Constitution; protection on the state’s borders and sovereignty on the sea, underground and resources within the state.

“Sarawak will be as good as a colony of Malaya. We stand with the Chief Minister on all the four non- negotiable rights. They are for the good of Sarawak and its future, and the people of Sarawak.”

Minos said Sarawak was supposed to be an equal partner but “it looks like we are pleading and begging for almost everything from Kuala Lumpur.”

He even charged that “Kuala Lumpur is playing the difficult and hard game”.

“This cannot and will not please any Sarawakian. In fact, Sarawakians are not happy at all with the hitherto treatment from Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

As such, he hoped that all Sarawakians would support Abang Johari in defending Sarawak’s rights rather than making excuses or arguments to take sides with the federal government.

“There is no tolerance for any Sarawakian who has one foot in Sarawak and another foot in Malaya.

“Under pressure or challenge, we must get both feet in Sarawak. Time for us to mean what we say for our Sarawak, Ibu Pertiwiku,” added Minos.