KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Women chief Kho Teck Wan says she is “greatly disappointed” by Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Hannah Yeoh who urged Sarawakians to do away with the ‘Sarawak for Sarawakians’ sentiment.
She said Yeoh’s statement showed the latter’s lack of understanding of Sarawak’s history and rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“If Yeoh is sincerely worried about the ‘Sarawak for Sarawakians’ sentiment causing regional discrimination among Malaysians, then perhaps she should take the time to find out the source of such sentiment,” Kho told a press conference here yesterday.
She said that it was through the ‘Sarawak for Sarawakians’ sentiment that people in the state became aware of the state’s rights under MA63, and are subsequently fighting for their return.
“I believe there is nothing wrong in fighting for what belongs to Sarawak. Let’s start building as a nation by honouring the Malaysia Agreement 1963. After all, there is no Malaysia without the agreement, and there is no Malaysia without Sarawak,” she added.
Kho, however, agreed with Yeoh on the need to fight discrimination, but suggested that the deputy minister look into the ‘discrimination’ of Sarawak when it comes to Malaysian history books, its equal status as one of the three partners in the federation, and equal development as the largest producer of oil and gas.
She also criticised Yeoh over her suggestion that Sarawak, having seven times more reserves in the bank than Selangor, should not depend entirely on the federal government to develop education, especially early childhood education.
“May I remind the deputy minister that education is the responsibility of the federal government. Sarawakians also pay taxes just like any other Malaysian and we expect the federal government to carry out its responsibility towards Sarawak.
“If the federal government is unable to manage education, please expedite the return of education autonomy to Sarawak as promised under Pakatan Harapan Sarawak’s election manifesto,” she said. – The Borneo Post
