KUCHING: Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS) chairman Francis Paul Siah (pic) said he is shocked by the Democratic Action Party MP for Lanang Alice Lau’s question on what action could be taken against her fellow Sarawakians for their pro-independence stand.
“Her question which can be considered anti-Sarawakian borders on foolishness and naivety,” Siah said when contacted yesterday.
He advised the young MP to refrain for posing such questions in future, failing which MoCS would deem her unfit to represent Sarawak and Sarawakians in the Malaysian Parliament.
“Even if Alice Lau does not agree with the pro-independence group, she should be smart enough to let her fellow DAP colleagues from Malaya pose such a question. Such stupidity could prove costly to her political career.”
Siah was commenting on Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s remark that the Sedition Act can be used against those who call for Sarawak’s secession if their acts posed a threat to national security and public order when replying to Alice’s question in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Siah said it would be healthy for all to see Dr Mahathir’s response as an advice as he has clearly stated that the Sedition Act will only be used in cases where an act of sedition creates a situation that is beyond control where it jeopardises national security and public order.
“It is true that the voices for secession among Sarawakians are growing louder by the day. It is also true that all these years, the proponents of independence for Sarawak have always carried out their activities in a peaceful and orderly manner.
“I do not see how that is going to change as Sarawakians have been known as a peaceful and non-violent people,” he stressed. He said rallies organised by pro-Independence Sarawakians are evidence of this which the Sarawak police can easily testify to, and there were no clashes of any kind reported at all, which has also been the Sarawakian way.
“MoCS is glad that the Prime Minister has stated that his administration’s policy is to promote freedom of speech but he could go one step further by repealing the Sedition Act which is archaic. Provisions in the Penal Code suffice,” Siah added.
