Two opposition leaders today condemned the Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar for threatening to charge all who urged the review of the 18 and 20 points Malaysia Agreement with treason and sedition.

State DAP chairperson and Kota Sentosa assemblyperson Chong Chieng Jen described Wan Junaidi's warning as absolutely absurd.

"There is nothing seditious about raising the issues in the Malaysia Agreement. If Wan Junaidi does not allow Malaysians to talk about the Malaysia Agreement, then he is not fit to be a Sarawakian, or a Malaysian.

NONE "He is forgetting his roots and forgetting Malaysian history," Chong ( right ) said when asked to comment on Wan Junaidi's statement.

Wan Junaidi yesterday warned all politicians not to raise Malaysia Agreement and other related issues as it could cause disunity.

"The urging for a review of the Agreement could be considered treason or sedition although no action has been taken against those who raised the issue in Parliament and state legislative assemblies thus far.

The deputy minister said: "The agreement was signed 50 years ago and therefore there is no point in raising the matter again. We have prospered much in terms of economic development and are enjoying much unity among all the races.

"So there is no point in raising the issue, just for the sake of political mileage."

'BN's policies causing disunity and unrest'

Blasting Wan Junaidi for his comment, Chong, who is also the MP for Bandar Kuching, said the roots of Malaysia, Malaysian nationality and citizenship came from the very agreement.

"It is absolutely absurd to say that talking about the Malaysia Agreement is equivalent to disunity and treason.

"I believe the policies of BN that have eroded Sarawak's position under the Malaysia Agreement are causing disunity and unrest.

"The policies and the actions of the BN are the cause of disunity and unrest," Chong said, pointing out that raising the issue is to address the injustice that has been done - the injustice that had been caused by the erosion of their rights under the agreement.

NONE Commenting on the same issue, state PKR vice-chairperson and Batu Lintang assemblyperson See Chee How pointed out that it was wrong for Wan Junaidi to say that raising issues in the Malaysia Agreement was tantamount to sedition and treason.

"This is the 21st century. We are not in the 50s and 60s, so you don't threaten people with treason and sedition.

"We should be liberal. In fact, the federal government should look at the agreement again and carry out a referendum among Sarawakians and Sabahans to see what are the views of the majority of the people," See said.

"Under what law do you want to charge us for treason or sedition? Such charges will not stand in the court of law, because it is not a crime or treason to raise the issues in the Malaysia Agreement.

"What we are asking is for our contractual rights, which we signed with three other parties, to be respected and to be addressed," he added.