Sarawak's Rights, Interests Must Continue To Be Defended Based On Spirit Of MA63
KUCHING: The rights and interests of Sarawak as a founding partner in the formation of Malaysia must continue to be defended based on the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) to ensure that the state's special status is always respected within the Federation of Malaysia.
Mayor of Kuching South, Dato Wee Hong Seng, said the celebration of Sarawak Day every 22 July is not just about commemorating the historic moment when Sarawakians began administering their own state in 1963, but also serves as a reminder of the responsibility to defend the rights, interests, and future of the state.
According to him, Sarawak joined the formation of Malaysia as a founding partner through MA63 and not as an extension of the Federation of Malaya, while that position was further strengthened through the Federal Constitution Amendment in 2021, which re-linked the Federal Constitution with MA63.
“Therefore, Sarawak's rights and interests must continue to be respected, not only during the Sarawak Day celebration but in the ongoing relationship with the Federal Government,” he said when speaking at the Sarawak Day celebration here on Wednesday.
Dato Wee said the spirit of self-governance must be translated through efficient, inclusive, and resilient service delivery, particularly at the local government level.
He added that the provision of quality public amenities, systematic infrastructure maintenance, responsive services, and safe public spaces are among the crucial elements in enhancing public confidence in Sarawak's ability to govern the state effectively.
He said the unity of the multi-racial people is Sarawak's main strength and serves as the foundation for the state's capacity to defend its rights and strengthen its position at the Federal level.
According to him, the 'Sarawak First' principle does not mean rejecting Malaysia, but rather prioritising Sarawak's interests in every decision involving the state's rights, resources, and future, while continuing to foster constructive cooperative relations with the Federal Government.
In the meantime, Dato Wee stated that the leadership of the Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg has strengthened the state's financial standing, expanded the economy, accelerated the implementation of MA63, and increased investments in infrastructure development, education, and digital transformation.
He also emphasised that differences in political views should not compromise efforts to defend Sarawak's constitutional rights and long-term interests; instead, all parties must prioritise integrity and prevent political differences from weakening the state's position.
He added that the harmony of the multi-racial, multi-religious, and multi-cultural society, which has long been Sarawak's identity, must continue to be safeguarded from any elements of division and extremism.
In line with this, he called upon all Sarawakians to continue defending the state's history and rights, strengthen administrative capacity and institutions, as well as preserve the spirit of Segulai Sejalai as the foundation for Sarawak's unity and progress. — UKASnews
