Serian refuses use of stadium for autonomy event

S4S to hold Sarawak Independence Day celebrations to community park in town centre after last-minute rejected by Serian council.

KUCHING: The autonomy advocacy group Sarawak For Sarawakians (S4S) said it will hold celebrations to mark Sarawak Independence Day on July 22 at Serian community park after being denied use of the stadium.

Serian authorities had again refused to approve use of the stadium at a second meeting on Friday, the group said. Serian Resident Dahim Nadot chaired the meeting.

S4S said an application for using the Serian stadium was made on June 23 but the application was rejected by the municipal council on July 11, 11 days before the event.

S4S said the event at Serian community park in the town’s centre will be held simultaneously with similar events in Kuching, Sibu and Miri.

July 22 has been newly gazetted as a public holiday to mark Sarawak’s independence from Britain.

The organising chairman, Alim Mideh, said a “fun-packed day” was in store with blowpipe competition, games, food stalls and live music. Participants are encouraged to wear traditional costumes, Alim said.

“We are saddened that the authorities do not wish to support us, choosing instead to brand us as troublemakers though they have no evidence whatsoever for that opinion,” Alim told the media here. “However, a great event will be the best answer to those unfair suspicions,” he said.

S4S will also assist local residents in their applications for identity documents with the National Registration Department.

Initial suggestions to use the wasteland behind Serian town had to be abandoned as the site was regarded as too dangerous due to litter and uncovered manholes.

On the venue, Karen Shepherd, group spokesperson, said: “We believe that the council has a responsibility to provide an alternative venue for us since it was their initial agreement for us to use the stadium that set our planning in motion.

“To withdraw that approval at the last minute when sponsors have been found, banners printed and invitations issued, and then to turn their backs on the problems that their withdrawal has caused is a dereliction of that duty.”

She accused the police of circumventing the Peace Assembly Act by refusing to meet with the organisers to discuss security arrangements.

Under the Act, no police permit is required for a public assembly, but a notice must be made to the police 10 days before the event.

Shepherd said the group hoped the police will support S4S in its constitutional right “as an act of good faith.”

Last year’s rally in Kuching was moved from the stadium to the Song Kheng Hai rugby ground. An estimated 10,000 people participated in last year’s Bersih 4 Rally in Kuching, organised by S4S. Two MPs, Chong Chien Jen and Julian Tan, both of the DAP were charged with contravening the Peaceful Assembly Act.