Sarawak to assert itself as 'region' of Malaysia, say sources

The Sarawak assembly is taking steps to assert that the state is a region and not a state of Malaysia, sources said.

Sources told The Vibes today that the lawmakers aim to remove the word “state” from the Sarawak State Legislature, as the assembly is called.

"The assembly is expected to convene a meeting next month on May 6 to15,” a source said.

"During the sitting, a motion will be tabled to remove the word ‘state’.

"After that motion is debated and passed, the official term will be ‘Sarawak Legislative Assembly’.

"That will mean that Sarawak will officially be no longer referred to as just a state.”

The source said the Sarawak Attorney-General’s Chamber is preparing to support the "promotion" of Sarawak from "a state in Malaysia" to "a region in Malaysia".

Sarawak United Peoples Party (SUPP) secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting said he had heard about the agenda but had not received a formal notice of it from the speaker.

Ting, who is the Piasau assemblyman in Miri, confirmed the assembly will meet on May 6.

"Yes, I heard that there will possibly be a motion tabled to remove the term "state" so that it will be called Sarawak Legislative Assembly,” said Ting

"When that happens, it means the state government declares Sarawak as having a status higher than just a state.”

Ting said in some countries, that means having the power of parliament, but that is unlikely to happen in Sarawak.

“(Calling ourselves the) Sarawak Legislative Assembly basically means we have powers higher than (those of) a state," he said.

On whether SUPP would support such a motion, he said, “Of course we will".

Ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sawarak is made up of SUPP, Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu, Parti Rakyat Sarawak and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).

GPS has 79 seats in the 82-seat Assembly after PDP "absorbed" three assemblymen from Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB).

PSB was dissolved in February to merge with PDP.

DAP holds two seats in Sarawak through Chong Chien Jen (Padungan) and Violet Yong (Pending). – April 26, 2024.