Ewon gets the praise from Sarawak's senior politician for resigning from the federal cabinet

KUCHING,Nov 9 2025: Senior statesman Wong Soon Koh has paid glowing tribute to  United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president Ewon Benedict for his courage in resigning as a federal minister.

Wong Soon Koh: We will demand what is rightfully ours. Unity is our strength. Autonomy cannot be treated lightly.
 

Wong, who is also senior vice president of Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), said Ewon has shown to the leaders from Sarawak and Sabah what it means to fight.

“It means to stand firm, defend our rights and protect our dignity,” Wong, who is also Bawang Assan state assemblyman, said when commenting on Ewon’s resignation as the federal Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative last night.

Wong said the Sabahan leader has taken a stand because Sabah’s 40 per cent tax revenue entitlement cannot be ignored.

“This is courage, integrity, a matter of principle and love for the people,” Wong said.

He added the federal government has ignored Borneo’s voice for too long, adding:”Enough is enough. Empty promises. Endless talks. Action is what we need now.”

He urged the leaders of Sarawak and Sabah to unite as one voice and one purpose.

“We will demand what is rightfully ours. Unity is our strength. Autonomy cannot be treated lightly.

“The old ways will not work anymore. Small tokens. Empty gestures. They will not silence us while our land, our resources, and our rights are taken away,”  he said.

However, he said, Sarawak believes in dialogue and negotiation with the federal government.

“But patience alone is not enough. We must act,” he said.

Wong said both Sarawak and Sabah must continue to fight to reclaim their rights enshrined in the Federal Constitution and Malaysia Agreement 1963.

He cited the case of Sabah having gone to court and won justice for the 40 per cent entitlement.

“We (Sarawak), too, must demand what is fair and just,” he said, adding that there must no delays or half- promises, procrastination and insincerity.

“When we see them, we must act. We must say no. Like Ewon has done, we must reject the small candies meant to silence us. We must stand tall and refuse to be ignored,” Wong said.

 He said Ewon’s courage (in resigning from his cabinet post) is a spark. Let it ignite a fire in all of us. A fire of unity. A fire of dignity. A fire of determination,” he said.

Wong also called on Sarawak and Sabah to demand, not request, for autonomy, saying that it is their right.

 

Sarawak, Sabah need real political power in negotiating with the federal government, says Professor Chin

KUCHING, Nov 9 2025:Professor Dr James Chin of Asian Studies, University of Tasmania, asserted that Sarawak and Sabah need real political power in their negotiation with the federal government.

Professor James Chin: But beware  the derailers, the smooth-talking Malayans who whisper "compromise"  

He said this means that Sarawak and Sabah together must get 35 per cent of the total number of seats in Dewan Rakyat.

“That's not a wish; it's a constitutional imperative, a rebalancing of the federation we were promised,” he said at a press conference, held together with The Sarawak Initiatives (TSI) here.

“With that bloc, we can negotiate properly. We can ask to be treated properly and fairly. We canask for what is rightfully ours,” Chin, who is also TSI advisor, said.

“We can ask for rectification for the past sixty years of marginalisation,” Chin said.

"But beware the derailers, the smooth-talking Malayans who whisper "compromise" while picking our pockets, and the well-meaning NGOs who support them, using fancy language like democracy and one-man one-vote.

“We cannot afford division. This is our fight to reclaim our destiny. Rise as one and unite as one. For our children, for our children’s children.

“This opportunity will not come our way. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to correct historical wrong in 1965 when the balance was taken away when Singapore was kicked out of the federation,” Chin added.
He said Sarawak is not asking for permission, adding:”We are demanding our due. United, we will not just balance the scales—we will tip them to correct a grave historical mistake.”

He warned that Sarawak will never achieve true economic autonomy over its oil and gas, or even the promise of full control over the education system, without political power to counter the iron grip of the federal government in Putrajaya.

He said the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and Oil Mining Ordinance are words on paper, but are powerless against a federal mindset that treats Sarawak and Sabah as a resource bank, not an equal partner.

“This is the story of the two Borneo states for the past sixty years,” he said, adding that oil and gas are not just Sarawak's lifeblood, but are Malaysia's piggy bank.

“ For decades, Petronas has funnelled billions from our continental shelves straight to the federal budget; for a number of years, Petronas dividend to the federal budget accounts for about 40 per cent, and the entire developmental budget.

“All these are facts that can easily be verified. The federal government will never willingly surrender this golden goose. Why would they?

“Would you be willing to give up easy money? I think not.

“You just have to look at Sabah- it took a court case before the federal govt is willing to even

acknowledge they have not been paying the 40 per cent that is in the Constitution.

“So, what is the antidote?

“Simple. Sarawak and must have real political power at the federal level. Sarawak and Sabah

together must get 35 per cent of seats in Dewan Rakyat,” he asserted.

 

"We must never be afraid to stand firm to protect our state's rights"

KUCHING, Nov 9 2025: The Sarawak Initiatives (TSI) president Datuk John Tenewi has called on Sarawakians and non-governmental organisations (NGOs)  to remain united in defending the state’s rights, saying that they must never be afraid to stand firm.

 ‘We must never let go without putting up a good and principled fight. We fight not with anger, but with conviction from our united hearts and that unity is our greatest strength,” he said today at a press conference attended by NGOs and Sarawak’s rights advocates.

He recalled that on Sept 27 this year TSI convened the “ Future Economy of Sarawak Forum” that unanimously adopted three resolutions.

He said one of the resolutions reminded the federal and Sarawak governments that the natural resources, including oil and gas found within the territory of Sarawak, rightfully belong to Sarawakians.

Tenewi, a former Malaysian diplomat, said the resources are not mere commodities to be traded away, but they are the lifeblood of the state’s economy, the foundation of its autonomy, and the inheritance of the younger generations.

“They symbolise not only development, but our determination; not only prosperity, but our pride; not only ownership, but our enduring Sarawakian spirit,” he said.

State’s rights activist Peter John Jaban, who was also present at the press conference, said that the time has come for Sarawak to take full control of its oil and gas resources.

He said since Sarawak formed the Federation of Malaysia in 1963 billions of ringgits have flowed into the federal coffers with only a tiny percentage coming back.

“In the last six years, we have contributed more oil and gas revenue to Malaysia than any other

State,” he said, stressing “It is time to turn off that tap.”

He said this is not about the past, but the future.

“We are still the state in Malaysia with the largest reserves. We hold 60 per cent of the total and new oilfields are being discovered.

“We are still the country’s largest exporter of natural gas at over 90 per cent of the total,” Peter said.

“We are taking back our role as the nation’s gas aggregator. We have big plans and we are funding our own futures,” he said.

He reminded that despite being rich in natural resources Sarawak has the second highest rate of rural poverty in Malaysia after decades of neglect.

“We still need infrastructure to stand on our own two feet. For far too many decades, for far too many generations, we have watched others take what is ours without respect or consent,” he said.