Parti Bumi Kenyalang called for the safety of Sarawakians who are working or studying in Malaya and in Singapore. It is estimated that there are about 400,000 Sarawakians working and studying in Malaya and in Singapore. In Johore, there could be over 100,000 Sarawakians living or working there.

This is not politics, but, is about the safety and rights of our own people.

It is also about our dignity. Sarawak government should send a message to people outside Sarawak that Sarawakians should not be bullied. We already have enough about “cawat” issue by a Malayan leader some years ago and definitely, we should not keep a blind eye about things like this one happening in Johor to our people.

This is also to tell outsiders that Sarawakians in foreign land who are working or studying outside Sarawak have a caring government who will fight for their rights and whom they can fall back when facing problems.

The case of a Sarawakian student physically harassed by unknown man in Johor a few days ago for not fasting during Ramadan despite being non-Muslim was horrible. It was just lucky that he was not seriously injured. He should be provided with a legal counsel by the Sarawak government to protect his interest and to ensure the suspect be brought to justice.

We should not tolerate such a situation against Sarawakians in a “foreign land”. Their safety in this foreign land is a responsibility of the Sarawak government.

From the video, it seemed that the suspect did not only challenged the student but the police , “saya tidak kisah paggil polis!”.

At the same time, the Sarawak government should, if not done, make a representation to the Federal Attorney – General Chambers to press for an early trial against the accused. This is to ensure that the student who was being assaulted or harassed would not have his studies distracted by delayed trial.

VOON LEE SHAN
President,
Parti Bumi Kenyalang