A group of 33 civil society NGOs have condemned the government’s crushing of separatists who have been urging for the secession of Sabah and Sarawak from the country.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the police had arrested nine suspects for distributing pamphlets that advocate the separation of the Borneo states from Malaysia.

“We, the undersigned civil society organisations, ask the federal government to stop their crackdown on separatist lobbies like Sabah Sarawak Keluar Malaysia (SSKM),” the group said in a joint statement today.

Among the NGOs included in the group are the Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy, Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM), Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM).

Instead of cracking down on the separatists, they recommended that the government “appoint a parliamentary select committee (PSC)” to investigate the matter and address the issues raised.

“A PSC should be set up to find ways to improve East-West relations and national cohesiveness by reforming our federal arrangement, and realising the promises laid down in the Malaysia Agreement and the Inter-Governmental Committee Report.

“Suppression of East Malaysian dissent - instead of addressing them - will only fuel alienation and validate the call by groups like SKMM,” the group added.

However, their statement also clarified that they do not support the call for secession, but was merely standing up for the rights of the activists involved.

“We do not at all support the alleged call for secession, but we stand up for the activists' right as fellow citizens to peaceful advocacy of changes on two grounds,” the NGOs noted.