By LYNCH COWAN & NATASHA JEE
KUCHING: Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan is not looking to win in an upcoming debate.
“I know they are good debaters and they will give me a hard time. But I am not looking for a win in a debate like this. I wish to participate in this debate because I have a few points to raise for public awareness,” he said in a press statement.
Voon was commenting on his planned participation in the “Sarawak, What’s Next?” debtae to be held here on June 22.
The one-day event is organised by the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS), and its chairman Francis Paul Siah will be the moderator.
The debate will involve Democratic Action Party (DAP), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and PBK, which will be represented by Voon.
Voon said among the points that he wants to raise will relate to the Advisory Opinions of the International Court of Justice delivered on Feb 25 2019 in the Chagos Islands case.
Voon said based on this case, the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) could be null and void.
“The treaty according to legal opinions could be void because Sarawak, being a colony at the material time, lacked the capacity to enter into an agreement of such nature with Great Britain and Malaya.
“Sarawak being a colony of Britain was not a sovereign country and thus, was not in equal capacity with Great Britain and Malaya to enter into any agreement or treaty with Great Britain and Malaya. Great Britain was a parent country of Sarawak at that time”, he stressed.
Voon said it is clear according to Anthony Aust, the author of Modern Treaty Law & Practice 2013 in page 70, that “under international law, between a parent state and one of its territories, or between its overseas territories, there can be no international relation, since only the parent is sovereign; any agreement, between them will not be legally binding in law.”
“The Treaty according to legal opinions could be void because Sarawak being a colony at the material time lacked the capacity to enter into the agreement of such nature with Great Britain and Malaya,
“Sarawak being a colony of Britain was not a sovereign country and thus, was not in equal capacity with Great Britain and Malaya to enter any agreement or Treaty with Great Britain and Malaya. Great Britain was a parent country of Sarawak at that time”, he stressed.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Patriots Association president Datuk John Lau applauded MoCS for hosting the debate , but felt that if more heavyweights are involved, it will be more interesting.
“It is a good debate, as Sarawakians would like to know what are in the politicians’ minds,” he said.
He said all the points during the debate would be appropriate to set the next step for Sarawak.
“So, it will better to also have MPs and assemblymen from both sides of the house to debate.
“Listening to these assemblymen and parliamentarians, Sarawakians will have a better idea on the next course of action for all of us. After all, it is their duty to share with us their thoughts,” he said.
Lau also hoped the debate could be broadcasted through live streaming so that more Sarawakians, especially those outside Kuching urban areas, can have a better insight into what is being debated.
