Sarawak as a region in Malaysia and not a state within the federation

suppadmin | July 10, 2016

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem has been urged to refer to Sarawak as a region in Malaysia and not a state within the federation when negotiating with the federal government in the devolution of power and autonomy.

This is because together with North Borneo (Sabah), Singapore and the Federation of Malaya, Sarawak was one of four regions which formed Malaysia in 1963.

Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian who is also president of Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) said Sarawak should be a country and not a state.

He said this at the launching of the book ‘The Grand Design’ by Sabahan researcher Zainnal Ajaimain at his party’s headquarters here recently.

Dr. Sim said he has discussed the matter with the Chief Minister, Tan Sri Adenan Satem.

The book contains Zainnal’s research on the Malaysia Agreement (MA63), Inter-Governmental Committee Report and Cobbold Commission report.

Dr Sim added that if Sarawak is serious about fighting for its autonomy and reclaiming its status as a region in the nation as written in the MA63, the Chief minister is the right person to take a lead.

He said SUPP had been in the forefront in fighting for Sarawak’s rights as entrenched in the Report of the Inter-Governmental Committee 1962 (IGC) and the MA63 and that it is important for the younger generation to understand the three documents of IGC, Cobbold commission report and Malaysia Act 1963.

The matter, he said, has been discussed with the prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who agreed with the issues.

He stressed that he is not against the formation of Malaysia but merely fighting for the rights of Sarawak and Sabah.

Also present during the launching of the book were Secretary general, Dato’ Sebastian Ting, Assistant Minister for Rural Economy (Interior Areas) and Plantations Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, , Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang and Datuk Lee Kim Shim.