Francis Paul Siah
28 October, 2023
Malaysiakini
COMMENT I wouldn’t dare claim that I speak for Sarawak.
However, as a Sarawakian, I wish to say that I speak for myself, at the very least, and I’m sure, many Sarawakians too on these current issues which I would describe as “sick” instructions and policies from Putrajaya.
How do I know that there is a large cross-section of my fellow Sarawakians who are in agreement with my views at times? They responded in the affirmative to my posts.
Here’s an example. In my previous article on the Middle East conflict, where I urged the Madani government not to take sides but to consider humanitarian aid for all the innocent victims of war, more than 90 percent of those on my contact list, the majority of whom are Sarawakians of various beliefs, stated their agreement.
I’m also happy to mention that a Malay minister from Sarawak also agreed with my neutral stand and for Malaysia to be a peacemaker and help find solutions to the conflict.
I do not have the minister’s permission to mention names, so it would be unethical for me to reveal the person’s identity.
Seriously, why should anyone be surprised that Malays/Muslims in Sarawak are different from those in Malaya? I have written on this matter before and allow me to recap.
In October 2019, I wrote that Sarawak Malays are already a dignified race and they do not need a Malay Dignity Congress like certain Malay groups in Malaya.
To the academicians from the four universities who initiated the event on Oct 6 four years ago, it might be worth your while to learn from your fellow Malays in Sarawak.
I wrote then: “Simple folks they might be from Borneo, but they are already a dignified race. Sarawak Malays must have been riding on the right track of race relations all along.
“Surely, something must be wrong somewhere if a section of Malays in Malaya feel that they have no dignity left or that their dignity has been threatened”, I added.
On another occasion, I wrote that “Sarawak Malays have no interest in ‘Malay Proclamation’, a declaration initiated by Dr Mahathir Mohamad in May this year.
To the Malays in Sarawak, it is not way off to state that Mahathir’s Malay Proclamation is a useless, worthless document which means nothing to them.
Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg was also quick to dismiss the event, saying “I have no knowledge of the ‘Malay Proclamation’.
“How would I know? We are still busy celebrating Hari Raya in Sarawak, and then the incoming Gawai celebration. Why should I be bothered about issues there (Peninsular Malaysia)?” Abang Johari was reported as saying.
I’m rewinding these two events for a reason and that is to remind Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim not to try too hard to be seen as the Malay hero at home and abroad.
There are also Malays/Muslims in Sarawak, and in Sabah too, who have a different perspective about race/religion matters.
Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) may be partners in Anwar’s Madani government, but the prime minister must never think that he could lead Sarawakians and Sabahans by the nose.
No, sir. I believe the people in the two Borneo territories are aware that they have been taken for a ride for too long and I want Anwar to know that many in Sabah and Sarawak (and I am certainly one of them) resent some Malayan politicians in power for this reason.
So, Anwar and all future prime ministers, don’t push your luck too far with Sarawakians and Sabahans.
We know what we want and for many of us, the next best thing to do is to secede - yes, secession, you heard it right. (I know that’s a “bad word” for many who intend to continue milking the rich resources from Sabah and Sarawak.)
When Putrajaya started introducing “sick” policies like now, how do you expect us, in Sabah and Sarawak, to feel?
When you want to force our schools and students to organise the Palestine Solidarity Week in schools from Oct 29 to Nov 3, that must surely be the worst thing to happen in the history of Sarawak education.
Although it has now been clarified that the event is not mandatory in Sarawak, it is bad enough to involve our schools and students in an emotive issue associated with spite, hatred and anger.
And we have to hear the most “Stupid” (stupid with a capital ‘S’) argument from the Education Ministry that the Palestine Solidarity Week in schools will teach students about humanitarian values and to practise empathy.
To the education minister and her staff, there is a word for stupidity in Sarawak. It is called “paloi”. I see no point in arguing with “paloi” ministers and some of their brainless department heads.
However, I honestly doubt that Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek would even dare to plan the controversial Palestine Solidarity Week without instruction from her boss, the prime minister.
I would like to know whether this matter was brought up for discussion in the cabinet before a decision was made.
If so, what was the input from the other ministers? Was the objection to the event, if any, noted?
Make public the names of ministers who had opposed staging the Palestine Solidarity Week. Don’t pretend there was a general consensus to hold the event. I cannot believe that.
What about the other recent “sick” policy from Putrajaya that all government departments should not entertain any letters written in a language other than the national language Bahasa Malaysia?
I’m glad this was quickly brushed off by Sarawak state secretary Mohd Abu Bakar Marzuki that the ruling does not apply to Sarawak.
Not only that, he also said that federal departments have to accept correspondences from Sarawak written in English as well.
The state secretary made it clear that Sarawak civil service can continue to use English in official communications.
Again, why a need for such a directive from Putrajaya, which is not applicable nationwide?
Eleven months in, Anwar has fumbled again and again but each time, I could forgive him.
This time is different. I believe Anwar is trying his utmost to gain international recognition as a Muslim leader, losing sight in the process that he is prime minister of a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural secular Malaysia.
Just be wary, Mr Prime Minister, when you try to push too hard on race, religion and language issues upon Malaysians, there are the Borneo territories where our beliefs, cultures and priorities are different from Malaya.
The day we cannot take it anymore, I believe we should seriously work out a solution to our fundamental differences. Perhaps, the best way is to exit.
FRANCIS PAUL SIAH is a veteran Sarawak editor and heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
