Chong Chieng Jen
THE state’s Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers should not be too naive in thinking that the National Security Council (NSC) Act would not be used to target Sarawak.
In saying this, Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Kota Sentosa) added that the state should direct its senators to vote against the bill.
He explained that the powers conferred to the NSC in declaring any areas in the country as a security area is based on the need to protect national security including sovereignty, territorial integrity, defence, economic stability and social political stability.
He believed that Putrajaya could trigger the Act if Sarawak continues to build pressure in seeking more autonomy and higher oil and gas royalty.
“When we demanded for more autonomy and when the state government advocated English to be an official language, could these be interpreted by some of the extremists in Umno as affecting the political and social stability of the nation?” the opposition lawmaker said when debating on the motion calling for the state government to be fully committed to safeguarding the special interests of the state.
“While we demand for 20 per cent oil and gas royalty, reducing the revenue of the federal government, can this be viewed as affecting the economic stability of the federal government? They can (view it that way)!
“The extent and effect of this Act on what we are trying to table such as fighting for more autonomy is curtailed by the NSC as it gives power to the council to stop us.”
Chong, who is also state DAP chairman, supported the motion tabled by Land Development Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing.
“The condition to declare any areas as a security area would be to formulate strategic measures of national security including sovereignty, territorial integrity, defence, economic stability and social political stability. Would the items listed for consideration by NSC (when declaring a state of emergency) affect the state’s demand for autonomy?
“Once an area is declared a security area, the armed forces and the police can move in, arrest a person without a warrant, seize property without a warrant and conduct searches without a warrant without recourse to any court of law to protect personal rights. This trespasses justice and basic human rights,” he cautioned.
However, Chong reminded that it was still not too late for Sarawak-senators to block the passing of the bill in the senate.
He expressed his disappointment that despite the potential threat of the bill to the state’s fight for better rights, Sarawak BN representatives had supported the bill.
On another note, he suggested for the state government to allocate some 10 per cent of its annual budget allocation to set up private English medium schools.
Chong mentioned that the administration of such schools could be modelled after mission schools which have been successful in churning out many of the state’s top leaders.
Taking account of the state budget, he believed that the government could easily establish around 30 such schools throughout the state. He also suggested that Sarawakian students need not pay any fees to enrol in the proposed institutes.
Chong said the state could end up making a profit from the operation of such schools, whereby a well-managed institute could attract non-Sarawakians from throughout the nation to enrol their children.