Datuk Seri Muhammad Sabtu Osman
KUCHING: Police will question the organisers of the ‘722 Sarawak Freedom and Independence Day Walk’ over the presence of the Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) movement at the rally here yesterday.
The rally attracted over 5,000 people.
State police chief, Datuk Seri Muhammad Sabtu Osman, said the involvement of S4S at the event at the Song Kheng Hai rugby field had raised concerns since it was not a registered entity.
He added that police was monitoring their activities and messages to establish their true motives.
At present, police were wary of the movement, amid concerns over calls for the state to secede from Malaysia.
“Definitely, we will do a follow up. Organisers (of the rally) will be called in because of the attendance of the S4S, which is not a registered society.
“We want to know what is their ultimate aim, and what do they actually want. Police will monitor their activities to ensure peace and stability in the state,” he said when contacted.
The event, to commemorate Sarawak’s independence from British Colonial rule on July 22, 1963, proceeded peacefully despite Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar’s advice that it should not be held due to concerns it would be used to stir up secessionist sentiments.
He was reported as saying on Tuesday that police might summon the organisers for questioning into the call for the state to secede from Malaysia.
Khalid added that police had received information that certain individuals were planning to use slogans such as ‘Sarawak for Sarawakians’ and ‘722 Sarawak Freedom and Independence Day Walk’ to provoke and incite others in seeking the state’s secession.
He added that such actions were against the Federal Constitution.
Yesterday, Khalid was reported to have directed his men to arrest and investigate a Twitter user for sedition after the latter said Sarawakians had the right to decide on the state’s secession from Malaysia.
The IGP reportedly ordered the Police Cyber Investigation Response Centre (PCIRC) to investigate the user, who goes by the handle @Swakheadhunter, under the Sedition Act.
The Twitter user, who goes by the name of ‘Republic of Sarawak’, was reported to have earlier tagged Khalid in a tweet, saying: ‘Secession is not up to you Malayans to decide. It is up to us Sarawakians.’