A GROUP of 11 Bornean NGOs have rejected the call by four ‘Peninsular Malaysia- influenced NGO’s, namely Sarawak ROSE (Rise of Social Efforts), BERSIH (Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections), ENGAGE and Tindak Malaysia which are pushing for Sabah and Sarawak to be given more than one-third of senatorial seats.
The group of 11 led by Sarawak Association for Peoples’ Aspiration (SAPA) rejected the proposal on grounds that it did not address the fundamental issue, chief among them is that Dewan Negara lacks political legitimacy.
“Their members are appointed by the Yang di-Perrtuan Agong (YDPA) and DUN (state legislative assembles) rather than being directly chosen by the rakyat,” argued the SAPA-led NGOs.
“You cannot expect a non-elected chamber to have the authority to speak out for Sabah and Sarawak with legitimacy.
“If the Dewan Negara was powerful, Singapore, North Borneo and Sarawak leaders would have requested a third of the Dewan Negara seats back in 1963. The fact that they wanted one-third of the seats in Dewan Rakyat indicates that they knew where the power lies”.
On Sept 21, Sarawak ROSE, BERSIH, ENGAGE and Tindak Malaysia has issued a statement to support the call for Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan to be given more than one-third of Dewan Negara seats by deeming such move as “a realistic pathway to realise the spirit of MA63 (Malaysia Agreement 1963) and to strengthen Malaysia’s federalism”.
Aside from SAPA, the other 10 NGOs comprised the Dayak International Organisation (DIO); the Moningolig Pogun Tokou (MOPOT) (Defenders of Ancestral Lands Sabah); Gindol Initiative for Civil Society Borneo; Pertubuhan Kebajikan Rumpun Dayak Sabah (PKRDS); and Gabungan Orang Asal Sarawak (GOASS).
Other NGOs included the Persatuan Etnik Dayak Asal Sarawak (PEDAS); Sarawak Institute of International Affairs (SIPA); Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights (SABAR); Sabah Entitlement & Equity Now (SEEN) and the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA).
“In summary, using today’s lens and half-truths to push for the one-third criteria to be met by Dewan Negara is disingenuous and an insult to Sabahans and Sarawakians,” asserted the 11 SAPA-led NGOs.
“The Malayan (referring to Peninsular Malaysia) NGOs may want to reform the electoral system in Malaya but they should do so without harming the interests of Sabah and Sarawak.
“Their push for more equalisation of the vote in Malaya shouldn’t include Sabah and Sabah as it is a political problem in Malaya between the Malays and non-Malays. It has nothing to do with Sabah and Sarawak.”
As such, the 11 SAPA-led NGOs urged all Sarawakians and Sabahans to unite on this issue by rejecting the suggestions by Sarawak ROSE, BERSIH, ENGAGE and Tindak Malaysia as they do not have the best interest of Sabah and Sarawak in mind. – Sept 30, 2024
