KUCHING: Movement of Change Sarawak (MoCS) describes Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s reply to Lanang MP Alice Lau on secession as a double edge sword.

Its president Francis Paul Siah said in a press statement received here yesterday that Dr Mahathir’s comment was either a threat or advice.

“I think it would be healthy for all to see the PM’s response as an advice as he has clearly stated that ‘the Sedition Act will only be utilised in cases where an act of sedition creates a situation that is beyond control -n that it jeopardises security and public order.

“It is true that the voices for secession among Sarawakians are growing louder by the day. It is also true that all these years, the proponents of independence for Sarawak have always carried out their activities in a peaceful and orderly manner,” he said.

Siah said he did not see how that is going to change as Sarawakians have been known as a peaceful and non-violent people.

Rallies organised by pro-Independence Sarawakians are evidence of this, which the Sarawak police could easily testify to. There were no clashes of any kind reported at all.

“This is the Sarawakian way.MoCS is glad that the PM has stated that his administration’s policy is to promote freedom of speech, but he could go one step further by repealing the archaic Sedition Act. Provisions in the Penal Code suffice.

“I am actually shocked that Lanang MP Alice Lau of the DAP has found it necessary to ask what action could be taken against her fellow Sarawakians for their pro-Independence stand.

Her question, which can be considered ‘anti-Sarawakian’ borders on foolishness and naivety,” he said.

“I would advise the young MP to refrain for posing such questions in future, failing which I would deem her unfit to represent Sarawak and Sarawakians in the Malaysian Parliament,” Siah cautioned.

Dr Mahathir has told Parliament that action would only be taken under the Sedition Act against those who called for Sarawak’s secession from Malaysia if they jeopardised public order and security.

The prime minister said this was in line with the government’s policy to promote freedom of speech, Malaysiakini reported yesterday.

“In line with the government’s policy to promote freedom of speech as per Item 1 of Article 10 in the Federal Constitution, the use of provisions under the Sedition Act will only be utilised in cases where an act of sedition creates a situation that is beyond control – that it jeopardises security and public order,” he said.

Dr Mahathir was reported to have said this in a written reply to Lau, which was released in Parliament on Thursday.

Lau had asked what action the government could take against those who call for Sarawak’s secession, and if secession is allowed by the Federal Constitution and Malaysia Agreement 1963.

砂分離聲浪漸強敦馬忠告如同雙面刃
Southern Region

(本報古晉5日訊)砂拉越改革運動組織形容首相敦馬哈迪回答南蘭區國會議員劉強燕有關砂分離主義課題為雙面刃。

砂拉越改革運動會長佘貴生今天在一篇文告中表示﹐首相的言論是威脅﹐也是忠告。

他表示﹕“我想﹐把首相的反應視為忠告是健康的﹐因為他清楚表示﹐煽動法令只將對付不能夠受控制的危害安全及公共秩序情況。”

“確實﹐砂拉越分離的聲音逐漸強大。在這些年來﹐宣傳砂拉越獨立者都在和平與有秩序的情況下主辦活動。”

他表示﹐這不會改變﹐因為砂拉越人民以和平與非暴力聞名。

由宣傳獨立的砂拉越人所主辦的遊行是最佳的見証。從來都沒有發生爭議。這是砂拉越人的方式。

砂拉越改變運動組織對首相表示﹐對其政策將促進言論自由感到高興。但是﹐希望他能夠更進一步廢除煽動法令。

對劉強燕問題感震驚

砂拉越改革運動組織對南蘭區國會議員劉強燕認為有必要知道將對宣傳獨立的砂拉越人做出的行動感到震驚﹐並認為其問題是愚蠢及幼稚的。

佘貴生忠告年輕的國會議員在未來不要提出此類的問題。如果她這麼做﹐她根本不合格代表砂拉越人民。

馬哈迪向國會代表﹐政府只將在要求砂拉越分裂者在危及公共安全及秩序時﹐才引用分裂法令。

“今日大馬”表示﹐首相指出﹐這是為了配合政府促進自由言論的政策。

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