Bornean group ends hunger strike over Sedition Act

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KUCHING: The ad hoc group of five Sarawakians and Sabahans who initiated the hunger strike this week to protest the amendment to the Sedition Act, ended their strike at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur on Day 4 yesterday.

According to a press statement, the hunger strike was in response to Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s statement published on March 13 where he stated that he would table the amendment to criminalise secession calls by Sarawak and Sabah.

However, it was revealed by Parliamentarians that the amendment was unlikely to be tabled during the current session as the proposed amendment has not been listed in the programme, which was already fully taken up by other issues. The group members after checking the Parliamentary Session listings decided to end their hunger strike on the fourth day.

The hunger strike was led by Pujut assemblyman Fong Pau Teck.

“The proposed amendment is outdated colonial law, which is ultra vires the Federal Constitution and in breach of international law principles.

“It is the right of Sarawak to be consulted on any issue affecting the position of Sarawak in the Federation of Malaysia. This is the basic safeguard upon the founding of Malaysia that any federal legislation which affects the rights and status of Sarawak in Malaysia must first be agreed to by the people of Sarawak,” he said.

Fong lamented at the unjust use of the colonial law to silence any questioning of the federal government’s failure to fulfil the promises to uplift poverty, implement Borneonisation and development for Sarawak, which reeks of colonialism.

“If the Home Minister were to table it during the next session, we will be back to oppose this unconstitutional move to victimise Sarawak.

“We are happy that the hunger strike had achieved their objective of raising awareness both in Sarawak, Sabah and Malaya,” Fong said.

Their hunger has gained wide news coverage drawing attention to the unnecessary amendment as well as the failure of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to keep his promise to repeal the British colonial act during the last general election.