I begin with a quote from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War: “He who wishes to fight must first count the cost.”
This advice holds true for those seeking to disrupt the unity, prosperity, and progress in Sarawak, as they must consider the consequences of their actions.
Let’s get to the point. There was a writer who penned an article attacking Sarawak’s number one leader.
In that article, he made numerous baseless and false allegations, devoid of any factual basis.
His claims were met with swift and compelling rebuttals, which presented the actual facts and figures, bringing clarity to the people.
The writer, who accused the Premier of being excessively fortunate, among other things, faced scathing criticisms from Sarawak’s top leader.
Not only did the people on social media and the streets join the chorus, condemning the writer and compelling him to reflect on the essence of journalism versus garbage, but they also provided a powerful response.
I believe Sarawakians are discerning enough not to be deceived by such writers and others of their ilk, who recently launched a campaign against Sarawak.
Undoubtedly, there must be a master puppeteer behind the scenes, instructing their mercenaries to exert pressure on Sarawak.
I concur with those who describe these hired writers as “pen for hire” or “journalists of fortune” because that’s precisely what they are.
I’d like to maintain an open mind and believe that, in general, people from Malaya have no conflict with Sarawak. It has been that way for a long time, but evidently, the powers that be across the South China Sea have decided otherwise.
This triggered the entire situation, and the writer’s article was just a symptom of this new ailment.
Like any symptom, it needs to be treated, but this particular writer seems to have displayed an allergic reaction of sorts. He is allergic to the truth, just like all of them.
The manner in which the original article was written raised suspicions. Now, with the writer’s retaliatory response, which can only be described as unhinged, those earlier suspicions have been confirmed, revealing his true colours.
The Malay expression “seperti kera kena belacan” comes to mind, and I hope my fellow writer understands the language well enough to appreciate its meaning.
How else can we explain the wrestling references scattered throughout the response article, where he name-drops personalities like The Rock, Hulk Hogan, and John Cena?
Furthermore, the writer pompously declared that the Premier of Sarawak is beneath him. Nowadays, the term “delulu” is used by the younger generation, short for delusional – that’s precisely what this is, for lack of a better word.
The facts are evident for all to see, as I highlighted in my previous article titled “Fortune Favours the Bold.” The Premier’s success was not a product of luck; it was the result of sheer hard work.
Sarawakians like me have been witnesses to every step of the journey, enduring the trials and tribulations that have brought Sarawak to its current state under the leadership of Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
I still recall when Sarawak fought relentlessly in court to assert its rights to the State Sales Tax (SST). Even when a constitutional law expert dismissed Sarawak’s claim, I was there to report on Sarawak’s response.
I was also present when Sarawak was accused of playing politics when it sought to include the phrase “pursuant to Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63)” during Pakatan Harapan’s unsuccessful constitutional amendment to Article 1(2) in 2019, which aimed to restore the status of Sarawak and Sabah.
However, fate favoured Sarawak, and the case was won, reaffirming its rights to SST. Furthermore, Sarawak’s status as an equal partner in the federation was restored when one of Sarawak’s lawmakers tabled the MA63 bill in Parliament with more than a two-thirds majority.
The Sarawak struggle has never relied on luck; it has been driven by perseverance and resilience. However, it seems that luck was never really the argument.
Instead, there is a more vindictive motive behind these actions, an attempt to put Sarawak in its place and maintain its subservience to external powers. But that is no longer the case.
In fact, we are becoming a beacon of hope for Malaysia, with our multiracial unity, political stability, people-centric policies, resilient economy, and genuine leadership.
That is precisely what they strive to undermine. They will be many like the writer – rabble-rousing, mudslinging rapscallions. We see through your facade.
To borrow a quote from John Cena: “You want some? Come get some.”
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the New Sarawak Tribune.
