Members of an East Malaysian NGO began a hunger strike today against Putrajaya's plans to enhance the Sedition Act to curb dissent in Sabah and Sarawak as well.

Concerned Sarawakians, represented by activist Lina Soo, said five of them, including herself, started their hunger strike “for as long as we are able to” or if told our medical officers otherwise.

“We are making this demand for the proposed amendments to the Sedition Act 1948 to be dropped… we do not want any provision that criminalises calls on the part of Sabah and Sarawak to secede from Malaysia,” Soo ( right ) told reporters at Dataran Merdeka today.

She said they were protesting against the proposed amendments because East Malaysia was not consulted in any of the plans to “enhance” the Sedition Act.

The hunger strike, Soo said, is to get the attention of Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to take notice of their demands.

She said the five said they would not consume any sort of food, except to drink plain water.

However, a mere hunger strike isn't enough as she and her fellow hunger strikers also plan go to Parliament, today and tomorrow.

There, they intend to get Members of Parliament to declare their opposition to the proposed amendments to the Act and to sign the Concerned Sarawakians petition as well.

"As long as we are allowed into the Parliament building, we will try and get the MPs to support us," Soo said.

Among the five taking part in the hunger strike are three Sarawakians - Pujut assemblyperson Fong Paul Teck, Bulun Ribos and Soo.

Sabah sent two representatives - Theresa Engiu from Kuala Penyu and Elizabeth Chin.

The five also welcome members of public who are willing to join them in the hunger strike, which they are holding at the site the week-long, 24-hour Kita Lawan sit-in is taking place.