"Proposed amendments to Sedition Act 1948 will violate Malaysian Agreement"

R E S O L U T I O N

SARAWAK AND SABAH DEMAND REPEAL OF SEDITION ACT 1948

WHEREAS at the Public Talk on the Sedition Act 1948 held in Kuching on 3rd January 2015, organized by civic group of Concerned Sarawakians, attended by various segments of the community and represented by all races and creed; where the proposal by United Malayan National Organization (UMNO) to amend the Sedition Act to criminalise secession calls for Sarawak and Sabah, was discussed openly without fear or favour.

WHEREAS the people so attended were fully committed to defending the civil liberties and democratic freedoms of the people of Sarawak and Sabah; and resolved and unanimously adopted the following Resolution:

WE, the people of Sarawak and Sabah in the Convention assembled, do hereby unanimously call upon the Honourable Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato Seri Najib bin Razak and his Government to carefully consider making it unlawful for the people of Sarawak and Sabah to exercise their legitimate right to voice their grievances over what they see as the failure of the promises of Malaysia to uphold civil liberties and democratic freedoms;

From left: SAPP deputy president Amdi Sidek (Sabah), Lina Soo, (organiser), lawyer Patrick Anek Uren (Sarawak) and Robert Pei (Sarawakian lawyer residing in Australia

AND that any such amendment shall constitute a violation of the people’s intrinsic rights, terms & conditions of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and democratic basis for the formation of Malaysia;

as the amendment shall be "ultra vires" without prior consultation with the people of Sarawak & Sabah; and also that the Sedition Act 1948 is outdated British colonial law which has no place in a modern democratic nation with respect for human rights and values.

WE, the people of Sarawak and Sabah therefore call on the Malaysia Government not to amend the Sedition Act 1948; and further call upon the Malaysian Government to repeal the Sedition Act 1948 as had been pledged by Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib bin Razak;

AND WE HEREBY make and adopt this Resolution in the belief that the Malaysia Government would respect and honour the rights and wishes of the people of Sarawak and Sabah.

WE SOLEMNLY DEMAND, on this 3rd January 2015 @ Kuching Sarawak.