S’wak membantu membentuk Malaysia bukan menyertai Malaysia

SIBU: Fakta sejarah yang menyatakan bahawa Sarawak menyertai Malaysia adalah tidak benar dan ia harus diperbetulkan, kata Menteri Kerajaan Tempatan dan Pembangunan Masyarakat Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.

Sebaliknya jelas beliau, Sarawak telah membantu untuk membentuk Malaysia.

“Kesilapan itu harus kita perbetulkan dan harus diperbetulkan oleh pihak-pihak yang berkaitan.

“Kita perlu meletakkan fakta sejarah yang betul dan tepat untuk kita membentuk dan menjadi sebahagian daripada Malaysia.

“Dalam erti kata lain, Sarawak tidak menyertai Malaysia kerana Malaysia belum wujud lagi pada masa itu.

“Menurut fakta sejarahnya sebelum ini, Sarawak dilaporkan telah menyertai Malaysia dan banyak masyarakat menganggap Sarawak masuk Malaysia.

“Sebenarnya, fakta yang betul dan tepat adalah Sarawak membantu membentuk Malaysia dan tarikh 16 September adalah hari sebenar Hari Kebangsaan kita.

“Pembentukan rasmi Malaysia adalah jatuh pada tarikh 16 September 1963,” katanya kepada pemberita semasa ditemui selepas menyempurnakan Majlis Perasmian Pameran 50 Tahun Sarawak Merdeka Dalam Malaysia Peringkat Bahagian Sibu di Pusat Warisan Sibu di sini, kelmarin.

Hadir sama Pengerusi Majlis Perbandaran Sibu (MPS) Datuk Tiong Thai King, Residen Bahagian Sibu Sim Kok Kee, Setiausaha MPS Hii Chang Kee, Pegawai Kesihatan Bahagian Sibu Dr Muhamad Rais Abdullah serta ketua-ketua masyarakat.

Pameran yang mempamerkan kisah-kisah/gambar sejarah berkaitan kemerdekaan negeri ini berlangsung selama seminggu di pusat tersebut dan dibuka kepada orang ramai dari jam 9 pagi hingga jam 5 petang.

Acara 10 hari itu dianjurkan oleh Pejabat Residen Bahagian Sibu.

Ditanya sama ada terdapat usaha-usaha kerajaan memperbetul kesilapan tersebut, beliau berkata: “Ini akan dilakukan secara beransur-ansur kerana melibatkan kajian yang teliti berdasarkan fakta dan bukti yang kukuh.

” Wong yang juga Menteri Kanan dan Menteri Kewangan Kedua turut teringat akan peristiwa pada 22 Julai 1963 di mana bendera Union Jack diturunkan manakala bendera Sarawak dinaikkan buat pertama kalinya.

“Malah, Sarawak merdeka dari 22 Julai hingga 16 September bagi tempoh 68 hari apabila Malaysia diwujudkan.

“Ini sebahagian daripada sejarah yang mungkin banyak masyarakat tidak tahu,” jelasnya.

Sementara itu, beliau memberitahu bahawa pameran yang diadakan itu adalah berbentuk ilmu serta pengetahuan yang dikongsikan kepada orang ramai untuk melihat sejarah, peristiwa bersejarah serta pelbagai peringkat pembangunan yang telah berlaku di negeri ini.

Ini katanya, adalah satu platform untuk memupuk kesedaran generasi muda mengenai apa yang telah berlaku kepada negeri ini dan negara sebelum mencapai kemerdekaan.

“Oleh itu, generasi muda tidak boleh mengambil ringan tentang soal kemerdekaan.

“Segala keamanan, keharmonian dan pertumbuhan ekonomi yang pesat sekarang adalah hasil usaha keras mereka yang terdahulu yang sanggup mengorbankan nyawa demi menuntut kemerdekaan.

Dalam pada itu, Wong yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Bawang Assan turut menggesa para pelajar sekolah mengunjungi pameran itu yang disifatkannya sebagai satu pendidikan sejarah.

Source: The Borneo Post

Read More

TMJ Beri Ingat, Semua Negeri Ada Hak Untuk Keluar Dari Malaysia

Sebelum ini, Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim mencetuskan kontroversi apabila mengeluarkan surat pekeliling bertitah supaya semua bendera Jalur Gemilang di seluruh Johor diturunkan dan digantikan dengan bendera daerah.

Selepas kehangatan itu semakin sejuk, semalam baginda mencetuskan lagi kontroversi dengan memberi peringatan bahawa Johor dan negeri lain mempunyai hak untuk menarik diri dari Malaysia jika mana-mana terma dalam Perjanjian antara Johor dan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu tidak dipatuhi.

Baginda bertitah demikian dalam satu temu bual dalam laman web sukan FourthOfficial.com.

Menurut Tunku Ismail, kenyataannya mungkin boleh disifatkan berbaur hasutan tetapi baginda lebih bimbang dan mengutamakan rakyat negeri yang terletak di selatan Malaysia itu.

“Saya akan menjadi Sultan pada masa depan dan tanggungjawab utama saya ialah kepada rakyat Johor.

“Malaysia sangat penting kepada saya, tetapi Johor dan JDT keutamaan saya,” titah Tunku Ismail.

Titahnya, rakyat mempunyai hak untuk mengetahu keadaan huru-hara yang berlaku di dalam negara ketika ini dan ia tidak mempunyai kaitan dengan Istana Johor.

“Bertahun kita hidup aman dan bebas.

“Malah, kami hanya menyertai Persekutuan Tanah Melayu, apabila kedua-dua pihak bersetuju dengan beberapa syarat-syarat asas.

“Dan jika mana-mana terma itu dilanggar, kita ada hak untuk menarik diri daripada negara ini.

“Anda boleh menuduh saya menghasut sentimen kenegerian, tapi saya hanya menjalankan tugas saya kepada rakyat Johor, dan mengingatkan mereka tentang sejarah dan warisan tanah yang besar ini,” titahnya.

Pada bulan Jun lepas, adinda Tunku Ismail turut mencetuskan kontroverso apabila memuatnaik tulisan berkaitan perjanjian yang telah dimeterai bersama dengan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu.

Dalam status di Instagram yang sudah dipadam antaranya menyebut Johor bersetuju menandatangani perjanjian 1946 itu dengan mengenakan beberapa syarat.

Perjanjian itu termasuk Islam menjadi agama negeri, air dan tanah negeri menjadi hak mutlak Johor serta askar timbalan setia tidak boleh dibubarkan.

Istana Johor sejak beberapa bulan lalu ada beberapa kali membuat kenyataan berbaur sinis dengan menyindir kepimpinan kerajaan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak antara lain meminta kerajaan menyelesaikan segera isu-isu berkaitan ekonomi khususnya berkaitan kejatuhan nilai Ringgit.

Source: PRU14

Read More

Malaysian authorities lose golden chance to arrest Doris Jones — Lawyer

KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian authorities have lost the golden opportunity to arrest London-based Sabah secession advocate Doris Jones when they allowed her to walk out of the Malaysian High Commission in London, said Kota Kinabalu-based legal consultant, Jeremiah Yee.

“It is known to all and sundry from the mainstream media that, firstly Doris Jones is wanted by the Malaysian authorities to assist police investigation for a possible offence under the Malaysian Sedition Act 1948.

“Secondly, a warrant of arrest was announced to have been issued against her by the police in Sabah.

“Thirdly, it was further revealed that a request was also made to Interpol to track and apprehend her, but was turned down.

“Under international law, the compound within the gates and walls of the Malaysian High Commission in London is protected and inviolable;

Jones could have been arrested and detained when she walked into it if she really has an outstanding warrant of arrest against her.

It will be a case of the Malaysian authorities arresting a Malaysian citizen on technically ‘Malaysian land’ for investigation into a crime allegedly committed in Malaysia,” said Jeremiah.

He was commenting on Jones’ recent comment that although she doubted there was actually a warrant of arrest on her, citing her walking out of the Malaysian High Commission in London recently, without being arrested.

“If there is such a warrant of arrest on me, they (Malaysian authorities) could have arrested me when I was inside the Malaysian High Commission recently, as that’s considered Malaysian territory,” she said.

It was reported recently that she had gone to the Malaysian High Commission in London early this month, to collect her passport which she had

applied for, only to be told by Immigration attache Azhar Abdul Hamid later that her pending application had been refused.

Jeremiah added that the Malaysian government could actually send police officers to London to interrogate and record her statement and subsequently set up court inside the Malaysian High Commission by flying judges, prosecutors, defence lawyers, witnesses and evidence there to try Jones.

“If convicted, a mini prison can also be arranged inside for her incarceration to serve out her sentence.

“Can the British authorities rescue Jones when such a scenario happens?

“In my view, the answer is in the negative as they are confined to outside the gates and walls of the Malaysian High Commission.

“From my perspective, it was a major slip-up and an embarrassing fiasco on the part of the Malaysian government in the London High Commission, and Jones is now a celebrity (an escape artist) thanks to the former,” he said.

On Jones’ ongoing campaign to get Sabah and Sarawak out of Malaysia, Jeremiah opined that whether Sabah and Sarawak continue to stay in Malaysia would depend on the collective democratic decision of the peoples living in Sabah and Sarawak – not individuals from outside.

Source: The Borneo Post

Read More

“I’m wise enough not to get killed in the course” - Doris Jones

BY PLUTO JAMES

KOTA KINABALU: Claiming potential threat to her personal safety, besides the possibility of being arrested under the Sedition Act, London-based Sabah activist Doris Jones who advocates secession, is reconsidering her plans to return to Malaysia.

She said although she’s prepared to sacrifice for her struggle for her beloved state of Sabah and its people, she’s wise enough not to get herself killed in the course.

Jones also acknowledged that she was concerned with the possibility of the Malaysian authority arresting her under the Sedition Act although she doubt there was actually a warrant of arrest on her, citing her walking out of the Malaysian Embassy in London recently, without being arrested.

“If there is such a warrant of arrest on me, they (Malaysian authority) could have arrested me when I was inside the Malaysian Embassy recently, as that’s considered Malaysian territory,” she said.

Recently, Kota Kinabalu-based legal consultant Jeremiah Yee has warned that Jones will be arrested upon returning to Sabah using her newly-acquired British passport, since there has been a warrant of arrest issued by the police on her, to face charges under sedition for her secessionist movement.

He explained that unless Jones was issued with a diplomatic passport, having an ordinary British passport does not give the holder immunity from prosecution.

“If the Malaysian authorities have issued a warrant to arrest someone for some sort of offence, this means the person can be arrested when he or she steps onto Malaysian soil,” he said.

Doris, 46, who is Penampang-born and raised in Labuan was married to an Englishman but she remained in England when the two went separate ways.

When contacted via her Facebook account, Doris whose maiden name is Yapp Kim Yuon remarked:

“The death of P.I Bala (a private investigator who is a key witness in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial) after returning to Malaysia is one lesson to learn from! If they do kill me in silence here (London), it is different story but to put myself to be kill...that is stupid,” she said.

Although it was reported that Balasubramaniam had died due to a heart attack on 15 March 2013, there were nonetheless a lot of speculations over the actual cause of his death in the Malaysian blogsphere.

The last time Jones returned to Malaysia was before the 13th general election. She left Malaysia for United Kingdom in 1996 and is currently working as a paralegal cum advocate in London.

Her interest to champion Sabah rights started since 1984 when Labuan became a federal territory. She claimed that at that time, she already had a negative perception of the Federal government’s treatment towards Sabah.

“I knew the making of Labuan an Offshore Financial Centre would not last long and would scrap off many job opportunities for the locals on the upper grades. And there’s also the issue of illegal immigrants coming in (to Sabah) without any control. So, what is the meaning of federal government?” she said.

Previously, there was an attempt by the authorities to extradite Jones but it could not be carried out as Britain does not recognise her crime under the Sedition Act.

Meanwhile, asked on her earlier plans to return to Malaysia with her newly-acquired United Kingdom international passport, she revealed that it was aimed chiefly to give her support to the group of four volunteers of the Sabah Sarawak Keluar Malaysia (SSKM) movement, who were charged with allegedly propagating the secession of Sabah from Malaysia.

With the changed of her plans to return to Malaysia now, Jones who is the founder of Sabah Sarawak Union (UK) said she would continue to monitor and support the SSKM volunteers from London. She also claimed to have around 70,000 followers.

She maintained that secession is the best way for Sabah and its people to regain control of their rich natural resources and to strive for a better future.

“We are entitled to every penny out of our oil, gas, timber and other natural resources. Secession is the best answer for us in Sabah. Will this nation ever return to the constitutional principles of our founding fathers? The answer, I am convinced, is NO!

“What I am doing now is not a ''circus show''. It is real and I am willing to take all the risks. We, Sabahans have nothing to lose after all; after this 52 years (of independence) we have lost billions and lives! We, Sabahans must take a stand against the ongoing and unjust colonisation of our homeland,” she said.

Touching on the Sabah Immigration Department director Noor Alam Khan Wahid Khan’s recent statement that she would have to make up her mind on which citizenship to retain when she returns to Sabah, Jones countered that Noor Alam should be more concerned of the huge presence of illegal immigrants in the state, rather than questioning her citizenship.

“I was born a Sabahan and I always will be a Sabahan. No one can change that!” she concluded.

Source: Kinabalu Today

Read More

Sarawak minister: UK must ‘come back and fix wrongs’ in Malaysia Agreement

KUCHING, Oct 29 — The UK cannot disavow responsibility if the Malaysia Agreement 1963 it helped to draft has been violated, Sarawak minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing said today.

Masing explained that this was because the UK was party to the agreement that was signed when Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and — briefly — Singapore joined together to form Malaysia, and must be held accountable.

“The UK government has to tell us what are the conditions in the MA63 that could have been breached,” he told reporters.

“If indeed there are wrong somewhere, they must come back and fix the wrongs, if there is any,” the state land development minister told reporters today after signing a memorandum of understanding between Bakun Charitable Trust and Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) here.

The Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president said, however, that his remarks did not mean he was implying that Putrajaya has breached the agreement.

Masing was responding to Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan’s remarks blaming the UK for not doing enough to prevent the confusion that has cropped up following their withdrawal with the formation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963.

Speaking in Parliament last Tuesday, Pairin, who is also Parti Bersatu (PBS) president, said the British government had allowed the situation to deteriorate since then as there were many unresolved issues regarding interpretation of the MA63.

He said a reading of the Malaysia Act 1963, Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report and Cobbold Commission Report led him to conclude that the UK acted as though it was in a rush to relinquish its duties to the two Borneo states.

The former Sabah chief minister also urged the British High Commissioner to Malaysia to convey the grievances of Sabahans to the Queen of England.

Source: The Malay Online

Read More

Pairin: UK should help clear unhappiness in Sabah, Sarawak

The colonialists didn’t do enough to prevent the confusion that has since arisen on Malaysia in Borneo.

KOTA KINABALU: Huguan Siou and Keningau MP Joseph Pairin Kitingan blames the hasty British departure from Sabah and Sarawak on 16 September 1963 for the prevailing confusion in the two states on their status in the Federation with the peninsula. “They did not do enough to prevent the confusion that has since cropped up. The British High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur should take note of this and send this message to the Queen.”

“It’s incumbent upon the British Government to assume the responsibility to help clear up the unhappiness in Sabah and Sarawak on Malaysia.”

Until today, we have so many unresolved issues in Sabah and Sarawak on Malaysia, he added. “Because of the British leaving without preparation and protection for the people, there’s suspicion and anger that has led to animosity against the Federal Government.”

He cited the interpretation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the 40 per cent revenue that Sabah is entitled to under the 48th Schedule in the Inter-Governmental Committee Report (IGC), as examples.

Pairin, who is also a Deputy Chief Minister and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) President, was debating Budget 2016 in Parliament on Tuesday. “It cannot be denied that there’s much unhappiness in both states in Borneo over the loss of safeguards and their treatment after the formation of Malaysia.”

He conceded that the empowerment which Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had promised Sabah and Sarawak was a step forward. “We need autonomy in many areas like education and health. Small projects like supplying food to schools should not need approval from Putrajaya.”

The young have different views, he warned, on the 20 points safeguards (18 Points in Sarawak), five per cent oil royalty, and other issues that have become the topics in political debate. “Looking at the constitutional documents in Borneo on Malaysia, we can conclude that the British Government had acted in a rush as if it wanted to relinquish its responsibilities towards its colonies in Borneo.”

“Therefore, the proposal to form Malaysia was done in haste.”

Besides MA63, IGC Report and the 20/18 Points, Pairin cited the Cobbold Commission Report (CCR) as evidence of the British beating a hasty retreat from Borneo.

Source: Free Malaysia Today

Read More

Court overturns ban on pro-Sarawak rights group

KUCHING, Oct 30 ― The High Court today reversed the home ministry’s decision to ban a local civil society group, nearly a year after the pro-Sarawak rights movement was declared illegal by Putrajaya.

Datuk Rhodzarian Bujang ruled that the ministry’s decision to ban the Sarawak Association of Peoples’ Aspirations (SAPA) was irrational, illegal, unconstitutional and without basis.

“As of today, SAPA is no longer an illegal society,” the group’s counsel Dominique Ng Kim Ho told reporters after the judge made her ruling in chambers.

Ng said the judge agreed with his arguments that SAPA was not given the chance to respond to allegations made against them before the ministry declared that it was illegal on November 14 last year.

He added that five out of the nine police reports lodged against the group had nothing to do with a public forum organised by SAPA, where a panel speaker had allegedly made seditious remarks.

SAPA president Lina Soo said the court ruling vindicates their position that Sarawakians have every right to speak out against any perceived violation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the accompanying Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report ― which were signed by Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore to formalise the formation of the federation.

“Now that SAPA has been declared legal, we will speak against any violation of the MA63,” she said, referring to the Malaysia Agreement.

In a federal gazette published on Nov14 last year, Zahid  gave his “opinion that SAPA is being used for purposes prejudicial to the interest of the security of Malaysia and public order”.

Subsequently, the RoS deregistered SAPA under Section 5 (1) of the Societies Act 1966.

Apart from reversing the home ministry’s decision, the court also ordered the federal government to pay RM8,000 in costs.

Source: The Malay Online

Read More