Kuching, Aug 30, 2012: The people cannot be faulted if they do not fly the national flag on their houses, commercial buildings and vehicles as a mark of respect for the Merdeka Day celebration, PKR Sarawak chief Baru Bian said in a statement today.
He said that Aug 31 is the wrong date for the celebration and that the correct date is Sept 16 on the formation of Malaysia.
“Aug 31 is only for Malaya and nothing to do with Sarawak and Sabah,” he added.
Picture left: Baru Bian, flanked by Sarawak PKR secretary Stanny Embat and PKR National Women vice head Voon Shiak Ni, at the press conference.
Baru said the focus of celebration is on Sept 16, which is Malaysia Day, to mark the formation of Malaysia when Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah, as equal partners, came together as one nation on Sept 16, 1963.
“We, the Malaysians in Sarawak and Sabah, look forward to celebrating Malaysia Day with fellow Malaysians in Peninsular Malaysia on Sept 16 when we will commemorate the formation of Malaysia.
“We are ever hopeful that the day will come when we will be recognised as equal partners as was the objective and intent of our founding fathers,” he said.
Baru, nevertheless, extended his felicitations to fellow Malaysians in Peninsular Malaysia on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of Malaya’s independence from the British rule.
Baru also said gross injustices have been done on the people of Sarawak and Sabah for less than keen to fly the national flag.
He said that the country, for many years, has been run by the Barisan Nasional government which has treated every government department and body as its own BN tool.
“Examples are too numerous to count,” he said, these government allocations being given only to BN elected representatives for their constituencies while those of the Opposition are given nothing, putting their constituents at a disadvantage, perhaps as a punishment for rejecting the BN.
Baru said the other examples are the issuances of timber concessions and alienation of the native customary rights (NCR) lands to politician families and cronies by the state authorities, the swarming of the rural areas by the government bodies like the Special Affairs Department (JASA) of the Prime Minister’s Department and the Community Development Department (KEMAS) during the last state election and the utilisation of government transportations by the BN candidates during the campaign period.
He said the other examples are the behaviour of the Election Commission personnel during the voting and counting process, the distribution of government handouts by the BN elected representatives and most recently the fiasco of the Merdeka Day logo and the theme song, chosen and written by the BN politicians.
“Therefore, how can one blame the people for being confused if the BN politicians themselves cannot maintain the separation of the executive and the legislative, and insist on portraying the BN and the government as one and the same?” Baru asked.
Baru also accused the BN government of using an overseas bogeyman scare story in treating the citizens like children.
“Who are our enemies from overseas?
“To my mind, our enemies are those from within this country who betray the trust given to them to govern the country.
“Our enemies are the people who enrich themselves at the expense of the ordinary people and then refuse to acknowledge their wrongdoings when caught out.
“Our enemies are the leaders who betray the country by giving identity cards and citizenship to illegal immigrants in exchange for votes.
“Our enemies are those people within the circle who are aware of the abuse of authority, profligate rampant corruption and cover ups but choose to remain silent for lack of moral fortitude or perhaps of their “tidak apa” attitude that prevails,” Baru said.
He also questioned, on the issue of patriotism, why are the people needed to be reminded, urged, prodded and cajoled to fly the Jalur Gemilang by politicians.
“Perhaps, it is because they have no reason to rejoice. When the immediate concerns are their own survival, flying of the flag may not be of any priority.
“When the state and country have failed to protect their interests and to provide their basic amenities such as clean water and electricity, healthcare, education and housing, I cannot blame them for their lack of interest in flag flying.
“When the state is party to land grabs from the people and the country does not speak up against the abuse of power, how can we ask them to show patriotism and love of the country by flying the flag?
“If the government had performed honourably and not let the people down, if the rakyat were well taken care of and able to fend for themselves and prosper under a good and caring government, they would come out in droves to fly the flag without being asked to.
“But making the people to fly the flag for the sake of a good show is just that – a show for appearance’s sake,” he said.
Baru also called on the people to reflect what has been achieved since the formation of Malaysia some 49 years ago, in terms of aspirations and hopes.
“ I dare say many people are now realising that while there has been development and advancement, far more could have been achieved had we chosen a government led by people of integrity and moral courage, and that what the country needs is a new beginning, a fresh start with a new team of leaders who are determined to building a country we will truly be proud to call our own.
“Let us give ourselves a chance of that new beginning when casting our votes in the upcoming general election. Vote for justice, fairness and equality for all people, regardless of race and religion,” he said. By Sematong Express.
