MIRI: September 16 marks the formation of the federation of Malaysia.
“Equally important is the fact that Sarawak and Sabah did not join Malaysia as stated in our history books provided by the Federal Ministry of Education,” said Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew in his Malaysia Day message yesterday.
“This was totally wrong and continues to be wrong. Sarawak and Sabah did not join but formed Malaysia with the passing of Malaysia Act 1963 (Chapter 35) in the British Parliament and the signing of Malaysia Agreement 1963 in London between the five governments namely, The United Kingdom, the Federation of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore.
“However, Singapore was separated on August 9, 1965.”
Ting, who is Tourism, Arts and Culture Assistant Minister, said most Sarawakians and Sabahans today are asking if we are equal partners with Peninsula Malaya “in form and substance”.
“The voices on the ground and from the people are very loud, clear and a resounding ‘NO’. Sarawak and Sabah have not been treated as equal partners all these years,” Ting said.
He said SUPP, as are all Sarawakians (except for the very few), welcomed Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir’s Sept 17 2018 statement in Sabah that the PH-led federal government would restore the status of equal partners to Sarawak and Sabah as promised by the PH during GE 14.
“Sadly, a year has passed and the people of Sarawak do not feel that we are equal partners at all as per that announcement by the prime minister,” he said.
“Conversely, the majority of Sarawakians feel that the federal government continues to bully the state government and Sarawakians as a whole,” he said.
Ting said Sarawakians hold the federal government responsible for questionable moves and policies such as the failed attempt to amend Article 1 (2) of our Federal Constitution on April 9, 2019; the failed attempt to relocate the Registry Office of the High Court from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu via a letter dated April 11, 2019; the issue of dilapidated rural schools; the Finance Minister’s statement that Sarawak would be bankrupt in three years; cancellation of projects; and the 20 per cent oil royalty and the return to Sarawak of 50 per cent of all taxes collected in Sarawak.
“On the auspicious day, Sarawakians wish to remind Putrajaya its famous words: “The Pakatan Harapan manifesto. This has been agreed that so long as Pakatan Harapan becomes the Federal Government, 50 per cent of the taxes collected from Sarawak will go to the State coffers. You don’t have to beg. 20 per cent of oil and gas loyalty will go to the State coffers. No. You don’t have to beg.”
