Masing is “new” Sarawak hero?

Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president James Masing's slamming of young Umno federal leaders and his call for a review of the Malaysia Agreement has earned him a new fan base on social media.

KUCHING: Sarawak Land Development minister James Masing has suddenly became a hero and has even been ‘positioned’ as a future ‘Prime Minister of Sarawak’ following his recent call for a review of Sarawak’s position in the Malaysian federation.

He said the review if not done immediately will affect Barisan Nasional’s position in the next state and general elections.

Masing’s unprecedented call sparked a Facebook page entitled ‘Jutaan rakyat Borneo menyokong Dr James Masing memperjuangkan hak hak Sarawak dan status Sarawak” which as at 4pm yesterday had registered 1,327 ‘likes’.

The page placed a picture of Masing in State Legislative Assembly attire as its profile photograph.

Also appearing on the page is a combo image of Masing with a description that suggests that he is the ‘Prime Minister of Republic of Sarawak’.

Alongside this is a photograph of Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud under a caption  ‘Bapak of Republic Sarawak’ (‘Father of Republic of Sarawak’).

Also visualised on the page was a ‘new Sarawakian dollar’ with a likeness of Taib on it against a background decked with the pre-1973 state flag.

The value of the ‘new Sarawakian dollar’ was pegged to the Singapore currency.

An increasing number of Sarawakians are of the view that Sarawak has not benefitted from its decision to ink the Malaysia Agreement in 1963.

Malaysia Agreement

Earlier this week, Masing’s Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth movement made a comparable call by saying Sarawak and Sabah were not the respective 12th and 13h states of Malaysia.

Yesterday, Sarawak opposition leader Chong Chieng Jen urged Masing, who is PRS president, and other BN backbenchers to support his emergency motion to evaluate the Sarawak’s position in Malaysia.

Chong, the Kota Sentosa assemblyman and DAP Sarawak chairman, said he submitted the notice of the motion on Monday and it would be due for determination by State Legislative Assembly Speaker Asfia Awang Nassar today.

In his notice of motion, Chong said after fifty years of Malaysia, Umno, the major party in the ruling BN coalition has forgotten that under the 1963 Malaysia Agreement, Sarawak joined Sabah and Malaya to form Malaysia as an equal partner in the Federation, and the special rights and autonomy were enshrined in the agreement.

“On November 11, 2013, a state minister (Tan Sri) James Masing, openly lamented that ‘when they (Umno) talk to us, they make themselves feel as if they are superior while we in Sarawak, are their coolies’,” Chong said.

He also stated that it was pointless for Masing to make statement outside the august House when he should be moving a motion to the effect in the assembly.

But Masing has dismissed Chong’s challenge, describing the call as “silly”.

“The DAP assemblyman wants me to support a move that  would spell the end of my political career.

“How can I support a party (DAP) which wants my demise? That is a bit silly,” he said.