S4S: Federal Government is formidable opponent to Sarawak's quest to get its rights

KUCHING, Oct 27, 2016 - Sarawak 4 Sarawakians civil movement is calling for all elected representatives at the state and federal levels to place the needs of the state and the drive to reestablish its  rights above all other considerations, including party politics. 

 S4S calls for all political parties and politicians to unite to reclaim our rights

"On this matter, Sarawak must present a united front if it is ever to succeed and therefore, S4S is renewing its calls for a cross-party committee to be set up to find a solution and then push the issue forward, not least so that it can continue to proceed no matter what the composition of the state assembly in years to come," S4S spokesperson Peter John Jaban said in a statement today.

He said Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem is making the most decisive steps in terms of autonomy that we have seen in many decades. 

"Before the last two years, we have seen no policy on this issue, from any of the political parties in the State. 

"As has recently been made plain, none of the Federal Parliamentarians from Sarawak even debated, let alone voted against the amendment to the constitution in 1976. 

"This rot has been growing for many years.  Finally, we have some action. Has Adenan succeeded?" he asked.

Peter said the only answer can be: not yet. 

"However, it is clear that the odds are stacked against us.  A vote in the Federal Parliament, as suggested by Chong Chieng Jien in today’s Borneo Post, is never likely to be a successful strategy, given the weighting of the house. 

"But there are several avenues open to the State, both political and judicial.  A resolution in the state legislative assembly is the right first step, but it cannot be the last.

"Once we have that resolution, then we can move onto Federal Court or other political pressure.  But, if we are to find a way forward, then we must work together and not use the issue to score cheap political points.”

He added: “Opposition politicians must set aside their differences on this issue alone.  There are so many other issues in Sarawak that they can raise in opposition – autonomy, land rights issues, rural connectivity, the budget allocation, even the bus service – but autonomy should not be one of them. 

"However, by the same token, the current government should recognize that there is a wealth of experience and expertise among the opposition ranks which boast a number of high profile lawyers. 

"It is madness to ignore that.  Our real opposition – the Federal Government – is a formidable opponent.  If we are to have any chance of success we must use every asset at our disposal. 

"Besides, the best way to ensure support for any solution is to bring in all the stakeholders at the planning stage. 

"Allow them to air their views in a cross-party committee and develop a plan that all members can get behind.  Only a spirit of collaboration and cooperation will ensure victory at this stage. Then we can stand together for the good of our own home state.”

He ended by saying: “The people of Sarawak have their own role to play.  We have demonstrated that we are behind the drive for autonomy by going out onto the field and by wearing the T-shirts and displaying the stickers.

"We fly the Sarawak flag.  We have given Adenan a mandate to pursue it. We must not take the pressure off.  We must show the Federal Government that Sarawak will not take its cheap handouts any longer.

"We must show our elected representatives that they will not continue with our support unless they work for us.  Without the people, the elected representatives have no power and even worse, may go back to sleep as they have been for so many years.  They represent us and we must continue to remind them of this.”

Therefore, the group asks for an end to party politicking on autonomy issues and further states that the best way to avoid this in future is to establish a cross-party committee to drive it forward.

" It doesn’t matter whether DAP’s Lim Guan Eng proposed a solution or PBB did. That is just cheap one-upmanship. We need a Sarawak solution and we need all Sarawakians to get behind it," Peter added.