New M’sia agreement: S’wak can survive without being part of federation, says politician

KUCHING – Sarawak can easily survive without being part of a federation as a newly proposed Malaysia agreement shows that this is not a “workable federation”, said state opposition politician Voon Lee Shan.

The Parti Bumi Kenyalang president and self-styled independence fighter said the MA63 has no legal effect from inception for many reasons.  

“That even if the agreement was valid at the time it was signed on July 9, 1963, it collapsed due to fundamental breaches – or omissions in the implementation of the terms and conditions therein, or the agreement had collapsed after Singapore exited from Malaysia in 1965.

“We should not mislead ourselves and our future generations that Malaysia is a workable federation when it is not. If we continue this way, we shall regret it even till we go to the grave,” said Voon, who has been doggedly championing an “independent Sarawak” in all his election campaigns.

“If things are no longer workable, it is time that the federation breaks up. Sarawak with its rich natural resources and vast land can easily survive without being a part of the federation, but it is doubtful whether Malaya will be able to.”

He added that Sarawak made a grave mistake to help form the Federation of Malaya and should now seek to peacefully exit. 

He pointed out that there is rising unhappiness among Sarawakians about the way they are being treated by the federal government.

“The unhappiness (among some Sarawakians) is a political time bomb ready to explode at any time,” he told The Vibes.

Voon said there is tension among the people of Sarawak now because of the increasing numbers of migrants and Malaysians taking up employment and businesses away from Sarawakians.

He added that Sabah and Sarawak have very little voice in the federal cabinet and in Parliament.

While Voon continues to push for an “independent Sarawak”, fellow opposition politician Lina Soo of Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party welcomed the proposal by Barisan Nasional deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan to seek a new Malaysia agreement.

“The MA63 is an international agreement signed in 1963 between five political entities – the United Kingdom, Singapore, Federation of Malaya, Sarawak, and Sabah.”

With only three left, she said: “It is appropriate after 60 years to dissolve the agreement and come up with a new political arrangement.” – The Vibes, July 9, 2022