KUCHING, June 5: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) should seek an amendment to the Sarawak Constitution to prohibit peninsular-based political parties from operating in Sarawak if the party is serious about getting rid of their presence in the region.
Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan suggested this in response to Batu Kitang assemblyman Dato Lo Khere Chiang’s remarks, who called on Sarawakians to reject Peninsular Malaysia politics that threaten Sarawak’s unity and undermine Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) efforts in fostering harmony and bringing progess to the region.
Voon also pointed out that SUPP should withdraw its support from the unity government if the party is serious about opposing politics from peninsular-based political parties. “Supporting the Federal government shows that SUPP is agreeable to policies and politics exported to Sarawak by political parties from Peninsular Malaysia.
“The presence of political parties from Malaya has taken seats allocated to Sarawak in parliament,” he said in a statement yesterday (June 4). Voon added that the Federal constitution allows Peninsular Malaysian parties to contest in any parliamentary seats in Sarawak, which was not intended by Sarawakians before Sarawak was formed.
Meanwhile, Lo who made the remarks during SUPP’s 65th anniversary celebration yesterday (June 4), hopes all Sarawakians will fully back the Sarawak government under the leadership of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, who, along with his team, has brought major transformation to Sarawak, especially in bolstering the economy.
Affirming the party’s support for Abang Johari, Lo said as part the GPS government, SUPP uphold the motto of ‘Sarawak First’ and will continie to stay on the right side of this fight.
