Sarawak must be recognised as an equal partner in Malaysia

EARLY this week, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Dapartment Datuk Liew Vui Keong declared that the Federal Government will make necessary amendments to the Federal Constitution to restore Sarawak and Sabah as equal partners in Malaysia.

It was news that generated keen interest among the people in this state.

Throughout Sarawak, there has been an awakening of greater awareness of the rights of Sarawakians within Malaysia.

Sarawakians have been asking for greater recognition by the Federal Governement of the importance of Sarawak at the national level for the past few years.

The state government had even gazetted July 22 as a public holiday to commemorate that date in 1963 when Sarawak gained its independence from British rule.

By declaring July 22 as an annual public holiday, Sarawak gave official historical significance to the event.

That date should be included in our history books so that future generations will know the true history of the state and country and that was the day Sarawak was granted independence from British rule.

Aug 31, 1957 was the date that Malaya gained independence from British rule.

And Sept 16, 1963 was the day when Malaya came together with Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore to form Malaysia via the signing of the Malaysia Agreement.

Singapore left the coalition shortly after.

However, very few people realise or even know about the significance of July 22 when Sarawak became a sovereign country briefly.

So it is good to see that there is a growing voice among Sarawakians for more efforts to be taken to recognise the importance of Sarawak.

All these dates taken together show that Sarawak, Sabah and Malaya are equal partners in Malaysia.

Sarawakians are actively drumming this message across and there is a united voice among the people of Sarawak.

This is a healthy development as it portrays a growing sense of love for Sarawak and also Malaysia.

However, it is also clear that there are some quarters in Sarawak who are carried away by their emotions.

Some people have openly declared that Sarawak is for Sarawakians only.

To start labelling some as “orang malaya” and calling for them to leave Sarawak is taking things too far.

I know of many Malaysians from Peninsular Malaysia working and living in Sarawak who are good people.

They came here to work, but have since resided here permanently as they love this state. They live in peace, raising their families in peace.

They do not create controversies or problems for the state.

Nice people like them deserve a place under the Sarawak sun.

Fighting for Sarawak and fighting to protect the rights and welfare of Sarawakians is one thing.

But to stir up anti-Peninsular feelings is not good.

There is no need to be radical and parochial and create ill feelings against Malaysians from the peninsular.

By all means we Sarawakians must defend our history, our rights as equal partners in Malaysia and our welfare, but do not go overboard.

Proceed with wisdom and caution, and do not create controversies that can mar the good image of Sarawak and Sarawakians.As for our national leaders, they must take heed of the growing voice of unhappiness among Sarawakians towards the unbalanced social and economic developments between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak.

The feelings of unhappiness among Sarawakians have been simmering for many years already.

Sarawakians are unhappy that the state is left so far behind in terms of infrastructure when it is the main contributor to the oil and gas revenue for the country.

Sarawakians in recent years have grown even more frustrated by the increasing racial and religious problems that have surfaced in the peninsula.

The cost of living in Sarawak has also surged and caused hardship for the poor and ordinary folk.

All these controversies have resulted in Sarawakians feeling increasingly uneasy.

The Federal Government must take note of these grouses among Sarawakians.

Sarawakians must also continue to struggle for equal rights within Malaysia, but proceed with wisdom and caution.

Now that Liew has announced the readiness of the Federal Government to restore equal partner status to Sarawak and Sabah, we wait with keen anticipation for the next step that will be taken to make this promise a reality.