Najib’s ‘two conditions’ for Sarawak are beyond the pale

So Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has set two conditions to Sarawakians if they want their rights returned.

In a report appearing in The Star on Dec 24, the prime minister was quoted as saying that Putrajaya had no problem discussing devolution of power and returning all eroded constitutional rights to Sarawak, provided that those in the state met two conditions.

“Firstly, there should be no talk of secession. The second red line is that the people must support BN.

“If you support BN, why shouldn’t I give back those rights, which have been knowingly or unknowingly taken from Sarawak?” Najib told a Sarawak United Peoples Party (SUPP) delegates conference.

As a Sarawakian patriot, let me make this declaration here: much as I respect you as the prime minister, Najib, I am unable to accept your two conditions.

This is a simple reason why.

I think it is very wrong, if not downright absurd, to set terms and conditions to return what belongs to Sarawak in the first place.

Hey, we have an agreement in place, the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). The terms in the agreement should have been respected and honoured. Who “stole” them from Sarawakians in the first place?

In a court of law, a thief caught and found guilty would be punished accordingly. Here, we have a condition where the thief has the gumption to set conditions for the return of what was stolen.

It doesn’t take a genius to sense that something is simply not right here.

I’m not sure how the SUPP members present at the conference felt after Najib’s speech. It would be unfair to condemn them all as obedient Umno-BN stooges, because I do have many dear friends in SUPP who can be very vocal about BN policies which are deemed to not be in the best interests of Sarawakians.

Perhaps, there were red faces in the house that day, I’m not sure. If there were none among the many professionals in the party, then I can only wish SUPP good luck for the future.

On the prime minister’s first condition – no talk of secession, I think it is plain stupidity to gag people from saying what is in their hearts and minds.

Excuse me, is there no freedom of speech in this country? Or is it true now that there is no freedom after speech?

I’m aware that a small cross-section of Sarawakians has been talking about secession. Why would they do that? Secession would be the last thing on the minds of happy and contented citizens.

Caring and responsible government leaders would have taken pains to find out why some Sarawakians are so unhappy being in Malaysia, and then take action to stem the tide of dissatisfaction and disgruntlement.

That is the right and appropriate action to take. Not gagging them.

Referendum calls growing louder

In any case, as many times as teachers tell their students not to talk in class, some will continue to do so.

Najib is not in sync with the current “Sarawakian patriotism” fervour if he thinks that playing the role of the class teacher will halt secession talk.

It is true that the cries of a referendum are growing louder in Sarawak. This is an area worth exploring further, and I honestly feel that a “thinking government” should give this a shot, although I doubt a referendum will ever be allowed.

Look at the UK, the supposed bastion of democracy. Scotland went through a referendum, the majority decided to stay in the UK, and that was it. Nothing untoward happened during the referendum process or after.

Of course, Malaya will never want Sarawak and Sabah to leave. That being the case, then do your best to make Sarawakians and Sabahans happy, contented and satisfied. Then they would never think of secession.

On Najib’s second condition – the people must support BN, I have to say that that borders on the ridiculous.

Has the prime minister forgotten that the people of Sarawak have been supporting BN for the past 54 years?

Is Najib telling Sarawakians that supporting BN for more than five decades does not count; only voting for BN in GE14 is valid in his books? How ridiculous is that?

As Najib is a known Manchester United fan, let me attempt this analogy.

Assuming Najib owns United, and before a United-Chelsea clash at Old Trafford, he sets a condition for Chelsea fans – you are not allowed into the stadium, even with tickets, if you don’t support United. Imagine how Blues fans would react.

I believe I speak for many of my fellow Sarawakians when I say this to him.

Dear Najib, let me remind you that our late chief minister, Adenan Satem, started negotiating with you on MA63 in 2014. That’s three long years. What’s the progress so far?

If you have nothing to show us after three years, then what guarantee do we have five years after GE14? Is this just another round of empty talk and hollow soundbites from a desperate prime minister?

Actually, you are known as an intellectual and a very bright person, but given the desperate situation you are in now, you have goofed once too often. In some ways, I truly sympathise with you.

Please be respectfully informed that many Sarawakians think that you are the most unpopular prime minister in Malaysian history, and there is very little respect left for you in this fair land.

So please don’t come to Sarawak and lecture us, and force things down our throats as if we, Sarawakians, are kindergarten kiddies. Your two conditions are plain silly and childish.

Here’s hoping that you will withdraw them.

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FRANCIS PAUL SIAH heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS) and can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com.- Mkini