KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak youth chief is of the opinion that autonomous rights are of the utmost importance irrespective of what term is being used for Sarawak.
Datuk Snowdan Lawan pointed out that Sarawak was an autonomous regional entity which played a crucial part during the formation of Malaysia.
“Under no circumstances should we be perceived as merely attached to the Federation of Malaya and defined as Federal Territorial (Wilayah Persekutuan) which is only an administrative zone to capitalise on some economic interests and platforms.
“Our presence in forming Malaysia was too significant to be ignored and it won’t be wrong to conclude that Malaysia would not have existed if Sarawak was not a party forming it,” he said.
He also pointed out that even the Federal Constitution was partly designed to accommodate the terms deliberated in Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“The MA63 was a result of the findings from the Cobbold Commission report. A report which reflects on the sentiments why and how Sarawak’s terms were to be honoured.
“Non-compliance or any derailment from these terms are depriving Sarawakians their rights, which should not have been the case for decades.
“Regardless of how we wish to term it, what is more relevant is that these rights remain autonomously ours,” added Snowdan.
