Sarawak DAP opposition leader Chong Chieng Jen has submitted a motion to the current sitting of the state legislative assembly regarding Sarawak’s position in the federation of Malaysia and urged all BN elected representatives to support it.

The motion is expected to be debated in the Dewan this Thursday.

NONEChong (right), the Kota Sentosa assemnblyperson, said that after 50  years in the federation of Malaysia, Umno, the main component party in the ruling Barisan Nasional, is forgetting the principle and the spirit of the Malaysian Agreement which recognises Sarawak as an equal partner in the federation and the special rights and autonomy that are enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement.

He quoted state minister James Masing as saying that “when they (Umno) talk to us, they make themselves feel as if they are  superior while we in Sarawak are their coolies”.

Chong, who is also the MP for Bandar Kuching, said: “Umno’s utter disregard of Sarawak as equal partner position in the federation takes the form of unfair allocation of development funds for Sarawak, and even the ban on Christians from using the word ‘Allah’ to refer to their God.

“Though there is a federal cabinet decision allowing Christians in Sabah and Sarawak to use the word ‘Allah’ to refer to God, there continues to be harassment by some government sectors in this regard.

“Furthermore, Sarawakian Christians residing or working in peninsular Malaysia are not allowed to use the word ‘Allah’ to refer to God,” Chong said at a media conference during a coffee break.

He said: “This development has undermined our Sarawakians’ rights under the Malaysia Agreement and the federal constitution.

“It is thus timely and pertinent that the state legislative assembly takes a clear stand to remind those in power in peninsular Malaysia of the equal partner status of Sarawak in Malaysia and the special rights and autonomy of Sarawak under the Malaysia Agreement and our constitution.

Equal partner status

In his motion,  Chong said: “It is hereby resolved that the equal partner status of Sarawak in the federation of Malaysia shall in no way be undermined;

“A special select committee comprising representatives from both the ruling and opposition parties be appointed to consider the terms of Malaysia Agreement and to recommend measures to make good and/or restore all the special rights of Sarawak that have been eroded over the past 50 years;

“The rights to freedom of religion of all Sarawakians shall not be undermined, including the rights of all Sarawakian Christians to use the word ‘Allah’ to refer to God in all parts of the federation of Malaysia.

“A demand be made to the federal government that oil and gas royalties payable to Sarawak be increased to 20 percent,” he said.

Chong urged Masing and all BN elected representatives to support his motion.

“We must make a stand in the state legislative assembly. There is no point shouting outside the Dewan,” he said.