From the legal perspective, sedition charges are inapplicable in Borneo as the rights movement involves the Malaysia Agreement 1963, an equal partnership between nations.
KUALA LUMPUR: Secession is a misnomer in Sabah and Sarawak, and issuing threats against those who speak up on Borneo rights can be counter-productive since the crux of the matter is the Federal Government’s non-compliance on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Threatening investigations and bringing sedition charges will not dampen discussions in the streets on the Borneo nations exiting from the Federation with the peninsula,” said Bingkor Assemblyman Jeffrey Kitingan after attending a public forum, Revisit Malaysia Agreement 1963, in Kuala Lumpur on Mon.
“In fact, strong-arm tactics will have the opposite effect and generate momentum.”
Jeffrey pointed out that the situation in the Borneo nations today was not like that 20 years ago when people lived in fear. Today, they are no longer intimidated by the Sedition Act, he added, nor would they be cowed if the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) was brought back.
“The young people especially are not afraid of being arrested for standing up for their legitimate rights and their place in the sun.”
Its convictions and beliefs that drive them, he stressed, and they are fearless because the truth is with them (berani kerana benar).
He cited, as an example, the on-going signature campaign for the People’s Petition on self-determination to be sent to the United Nations after the target 500,000 endorsements are obtained. Young people everywhere are signing the petition online and getting their elders to do the same, Jeffrey disclosed. “Already, 20,000 signatures have been collected and the process is gathering momentum.”
From the legal perspective, continued Jeffrey, secession is not the issue in Borneo as this involves MA63, an equal partnership between nations. “If we are free to enter a partnership, we are equally free to leave it or even dissolve it,” said Jeffrey. “So, secession is not the right word to use in the case of the Sabah, Sarawak activists and they shouldn’t be threatened with sedition or treason charges.”
He urged Putrajaya to set up a mechanism to address grievances in the Borneo nations and cautioned that history is not on the side of the Federal Government on the matter. Instead, the authorities seem bent on creating a climate of fear to stamp out dissent, he lamented.
“We are not happy over so many socio-economic issues as well but the primary emphasis in this struggle has been on the theme that man does not live by bread alone,” said Jeffrey. “Oil, revenue-sharing, security and land are burning issues.”
“Threatening investigations and bringing sedition charges will not dampen discussions in the streets on the Borneo nations exiting from the Federation with the peninsula,” said Bingkor Assemblyman Jeffrey Kitingan after attending a public forum, Revisit Malaysia Agreement 1963, in Kuala Lumpur on Mon.
“In fact, strong-arm tactics will have the opposite effect and generate momentum.”
Jeffrey pointed out that the situation in the Borneo nations today was not like that 20 years ago when people lived in fear. Today, they are no longer intimidated by the Sedition Act, he added, nor would they be cowed if the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) was brought back.
“The young people especially are not afraid of being arrested for standing up for their legitimate rights and their place in the sun.”
Its convictions and beliefs that drive them, he stressed, and they are fearless because the truth is with them (berani kerana benar).
He cited, as an example, the on-going signature campaign for the People’s Petition on self-determination to be sent to the United Nations after the target 500,000 endorsements are obtained. Young people everywhere are signing the petition online and getting their elders to do the same, Jeffrey disclosed. “Already, 20,000 signatures have been collected and the process is gathering momentum.”
From the legal perspective, continued Jeffrey, secession is not the issue in Borneo as this involves MA63, an equal partnership between nations. “If we are free to enter a partnership, we are equally free to leave it or even dissolve it,” said Jeffrey. “So, secession is not the right word to use in the case of the Sabah, Sarawak activists and they shouldn’t be threatened with sedition or treason charges.”
He urged Putrajaya to set up a mechanism to address grievances in the Borneo nations and cautioned that history is not on the side of the Federal Government on the matter. Instead, the authorities seem bent on creating a climate of fear to stamp out dissent, he lamented.
“We are not happy over so many socio-economic issues as well but the primary emphasis in this struggle has been on the theme that man does not live by bread alone,” said Jeffrey. “Oil, revenue-sharing, security and land are burning issues.”
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