We need patriots, not parrots. As I am writing this article, an online petition is being circulated, seeking the removal of Dr Maszlee Malik as our Education Minister.
The petition was started by the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS).
Days earlier, the Association of Churches Sarawak (ACS) had also voiced its disapproval over Dr Maszlee’s statement.
“The statement by the Education Minister to make Sabah and Sarawak a battlefield for religious propagation is not in the spirit of the MA63 and appears to be sanctioning teachers from Malaya to promote Islamisation and propagation to local students in non-religious schools in Sabah and Sarawak…”
” We must stand firm, speak out and make representation to Putrajaya leaders that the assurances and guarantees under MA63 should be respected.”
ACS stressed that religious freedom is safeguarded and guaranteed to the people of Sabah and Sarawak, regardless of race, under the IGC Report, MA63 and the Federal Constitution.
“The majority of the people of Sarawak are non-Muslim and the Sarawak Constitution provides for a secular government and society, where there is no state religion in Sarawak.
It is clearly stated in the Inter-Government Committee (IGC) Report that there should be no application to the Borneo states of any federal requirements regarding religious education.
All these were expressed with the affirmation and commitment towards promoting harmony and unity among all the people of Sarawak and our nation Malaysia.
It was indeed disappointing – apart from Batang Sadong MP Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri and Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family And Childhood Development Datuk Seri Fatimah’s statements, however feeble – to notice the deafening silence from the other more senior, and at times, very vocal leaders in the government.
” We need patriots, not parrots to carry us through this long and winding road of regaining what rightfully belong to us.”
Dr Maszlee’s statement on making Sarawak a ‘medan dakwah’ is an encroachment on our non-negotiable rights under the jurisdiction of MA63 – we cannot keep quiet or remain indifferent to it.
We must stand firm on this, speak out and make representation to Putrajaya leaders that the assurances and guarantees under MA63 should be respected.
They are, in fact, non-negotiable as these were the very terms and conditions precedent to Sarawak agreeing to come together to form Malaysia, with the Federation of Malaya, Singapore and North Borneo (Sabah) in 1963.
They must be honoured, and rightly so.
What had been put together, let no leader put asunder.
While the Pakatan Harapan government is making progress, albeit slowly, in revisiting MA63, in efforts to restore our rights and status, our state leaders must stand collectively to denounce any attempts by any Malayan in speeches or efforts, contrary to the MA63 assurances and guarantees.
We need patriots, not parrots to carry us through this long and winding road of regaining what rightfully belong to us.
We need bravehearts, not faint hearts to face these challenges.
As the saying goes, “Nothing worthwhile comes easy”. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is a very firm leader, and can be unwavering too.
But at 93 years old, I would like to believe that he was returned to Putrajaya “for a second chance” by divine intervention to right the wrongs which had been created or committed during his and Umno-BN regime days.
I believe there’s an inner voice whispering in his ears to “do the right things and do them right” for Sarawakians and Sabahans, notwithstanding what his distractors may otherwise say or believe.
And one of these “wrongs” had been the injustices dealt to the two Borneo States of Sabah and Sarawak – rich in resources but remain among the poorest in the nation, due more to inequitable development and distribution of wealth over the decades.
We are founding partners in MA63 but relegated to being just “one of the states” in the Federation of Malaysia.
It’s evident that resentment towards the federal government and the federation is growing and building up by the day.
There are even calls for a referendum to determine our position in Malaysia and some are even crying for separation.
Charity begins at home – our local leaders must stand up and be counted in the fight for the restoration of our rights and status.
We need to flex our muscles like partners, not bow our heads like subordinates to Putrajaya.
Be like warriors, not worriers and ask not what Sarawak can do for you, but rather, ask what you can do for Sarawak.
Let’s start with “Mission MA63” and continue with it to create history.
May Sarawak once again be strong and free, with restoration of its autonomy.
Let the patriots come to the fore. Be parrots no more.
