A motley group of representatives from three political parties traded barbs at a debate organised by Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) yesterday, but came to terms that more needs to be done to secure and improve Sarawak's rights within the federation.

The trio were PKR’s Ba’Kelalan assemblyperson Baru Bian, SUPP Pelawan secretary-general Michael Tiang Ming Tee and Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDS Baru) deputy president of Patrick Uren. PBDS is a Dayak-based party registered in 2013.

All three leaders said that Sarawak needed to operate within the framework of the Federal Constitution, as opposed to secession, and that oil royalties for Sarawak should be increased from the current five percent to 20 percent.