In light of the Malaysia Day celebration on Sept 16, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Supreme Council member Dr Hazland Abang Hipni urged the federal government to strive to regain the spirit of the formation of Malaysia as per the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Go back to basics. These are the fundamental rights of Sarawakians — nothing more, nothing less,” he stated.
Dr Hazland, who is also Demak Laut assemblyman, concurred with the “leave Sarawak alone” notion.
He said federal leaders continued to allow extreme racial and religious issues, such as the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) forbidding the recital of “doa” at official functions attended by Muslims and non-Muslims.
He pointed out that Sarawak was the only state which had officially renounced all these “strange” policies, remarking, “It is the stance of Sarawakians — we want to be left alone.”
Dr Hazland believed that to prevent such extremists from entering Sarawak, the state government and the people alike had to maintain a clear mind and a strong will.
At a function in early September, he said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had reassured Sarawakians that he would enforce the state’s autonomy to ban extremists from entering Sarawak — a symbol of the state’s intolerance for any form of extremism.
Meanwhile, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Women chief Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodie also presented a message of racial unity, advising, “Respect and honour one another regardless of our creed and colour.”
She urged for a culture of peace and love to be upheld by the society.
“We are Malaysians — Happy Malaysia Day,” Doris said.
