Follow democratic process in appointment of TYT — PBK president
KUCHING: The appointment of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak should not bypass democratic norms that allow for names of potential candidates to be submitted or nominated by members of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN), says Voon Lee Shan.
The Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president stresses that this process is important in maintaining democracy and trust given by voters and the people of Sarawak to their elected representatives and the government.
“It is noted that there is nothing in the Sarawak Constitution that prohibits a non-Malay or a non-Muslim to be the Governor of Sarawak.
“If there is a silent agreement among the elites in Sarawak or Malaysia that only Malays or Muslims could be governors, such an unholy agreement should be removed,” he said in a statement.
Voon pointed out that all the previous Heads of State had been Malays or Muslims and this, he said, could be seen as a discrimination of race in Sarawak.
Voon claimed that with talks being rife about Tan Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to soon be succeeding Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud as the eighth Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak, this had caused ‘uneasiness among the Dayak community as they had expected that a Dayak would be appointed to hold this ceremonial post this time around’.
“The Dayaks have patiently waited for the past 60 years to see a Dayak be appointed as Governor.
“The federal and state governments should not see this matter lightly as it is a political time bomb that has been ticking for the past 60 years, and this political time bomb could create sparks at any time for racial unrest in Sarawak, if not handled properly.
“Being the majority race, it is right that the position of the Governor this time be given to the Dayaks,” he emphasised.
Voon also said there should not be any interference on the appointment of the Head of State by the prime minister and federal government.
“Article 1(1) of the Sarawak Constitution empowers the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, after consultation with the Chief Minister (now Premier), to appoint who should be the Governor of Sarawak.
“The appointment of the Governor is a Sarawak affair and there should not be any interference by Malaya, or to have the appointment to be made by the King.
“This Article 1(1) of the Sarawak Constitution and any other agreements, if any, empowering the King to appoint the Governor, should be invalidated or repealed,” added Voon.
He said in the event that a Muslim or Malay would once again be appointed as a governor of Sarawak, the Premier should explain the decision of this appointment to Sarawakians, especially the Dayak community.
“Talks are also rife that the Prime Minister and Premier have taken to themselves the decision of appointing Tan Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, thus bypassing the Sarawak Legislature.
“It is not sure whether Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud had chosen to resign as Yang di-Pertua Negeri, as there is no news or response from the governor himself.
“The people of Sarawak have a right to know, and the Premier owes an explanation to Sarawakians,” he said.