Sabah Sarawak Rights - Australia New Zealand (SSRANZ)

Protes ini memperingati ulang tahun hari di mana pada tahun 1963, Malaya, atas alasan membentuk "Malaysia," meluaskan sempadan politiknya untuk memasukkan Sabah dan Sarawak. Para penunjuk perasaan berhujah bahawa tiada negara baru yang dibentuk pada hari tersebut; sebaliknya, ia merupakan peluasan strategik kawalan Malaya ke atas Borneo. Dalam ucapannya, Ampang menyatakan, “Pembentukan Malaysia yang kononnya berlaku adalah satu muslihat politik yang dilakukan melalui paksaan, penipuan, dan tanpa persetujuan rakyat Borneo. Tiada referendum yang pernah diadakan, menjadikan ia satu penjajahan yang tidak sah ke atas tanah kami.”

Demonstrasi ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kesedaran di kalangan rakyat Australia dan masyarakat antarabangsa mengenai tuntutan keadilan oleh rakyat Borneo. "Rakyat Sabah dan Sarawak berhak untuk mendapatkan kemerdekaan, dan mereka perlu diberi peluang untuk meluahkan hak demokratik mereka," kata Ampang, sambil menyeru penamatan apa yang beliau anggap sebagai “penjajahan Malaya” ke atas negara-negara Borneo. Beliau menambah, "Demonstrasi aman ini adalah satu seruan untuk mendapatkan sokongan antarabangsa bagi mendesak Malaysia supaya menghormati hak-hak rakyat Borneo. Sudah tiba masanya untuk keadilan, dan dunia perlu berdiri bersama kami."

Acara ini menggariskan usaha berterusan oleh NGO Republik Sabah North Borneo dan kumpulan-kumpulan kemerdekaan Borneo lain untuk menimbulkan kesedaran tentang konteks sejarah dan politik seputar Perjanjian Malaysia. Ampang dan para penunjuk perasaan menegaskan semula tuntutan mereka agar komuniti antarabangsa mengakui ketidaksahan perjanjian tersebut dan mencari penyelesaian aman yang menghormati hak rakyat Borneo untuk menentukan nasib mereka sendiri.

Ketika demonstrasi berakhir, para penganjur menegaskan komitmen mereka untuk terus memperjuangkan kemerdekaan Sabah dan Sarawak, sambil menggesa badan-badan antarabangsa untuk campur tangan dan memberi sokongan yang diperlukan bagi menamatkan apa yang mereka anggap sebagai penjajahan yang tidak adil.

This date, celebrated in Malaysia as Malaysia Day, is viewed by the organizers as a reminder of the historical grievances experienced by the people of Sabah (formerly North Borneo) and Sarawak. These two Borneo states were originally led to believe that they were part of the formation of a new country, but, according to the organizers, this promise was never fulfilled. Instead, they claim that the reality was an expansion of the Malayan Federation into Borneo, later renamed Malaysia, resulting in what the NGOs argue is an ongoing occupation by Peninsular Malaysia.

A Peaceful Call for Awareness and Justice

The demonstration aims to raise international awareness about the ongoing situation in Sabah and Sarawak, which the NGOs argue is one of systematic suppression, injustice, and exploitation by the central government in Kuala Lumpur. According to the organizers, this is an opportunity to educate the international community on what they perceive as a 61-year-long oppression and to correct misconceptions surrounding the creation of Malaysia.

The demonstration will also highlight:

1. Injustice and Misrepresentation: The organizers will address what they call the "betrayal" of Sabah and Sarawak, emphasizing that the Malaysia Agreement of 1963 (MA63) misled the people of both states into believing they would be equal partners in a new federation. Instead, they argue, the agreement enabled Malaya to consolidate control over their territories.
2. Harassment and Intimidation: The NGOs will present instances of alleged harassment, intimidation, and political suppression of individuals and groups advocating for Sabah and Sarawak's rights. This includes accusations of legal threats, arrests, and a lack of autonomy for local political leaders, all of which contribute to what they describe as a stifling of free expression in the Borneo states.
3. Cultural and Economic Exploitation: Another focus will be on the alleged economic exploitation of Sabah and Sarawak, particularly in terms of natural resources like oil and gas. The groups argue that the wealth generated from these resources has not been equitably distributed to the people of Borneo, leaving both states impoverished while contributing significantly to Malaysia's overall economy.

A Broader Movement for Independence

The peaceful demonstration is part of a larger movement led by these NGOs advocating for the independence of Sabah and Sarawak from Malaysia. The Republic of Sabah North Borneo (RSNB) has been at the forefront of these efforts, with its president, Mosses PA Ampang, calling for international support for the right to self-determination. The Sabah Sarawak Rights Australia & New Zealand (SSRANZ) organization lead by Robert Pei, founded in July 2017, has also been actively organizing forums, live talks, and public meetings to strengthen the push for independence.

Advocates point to historical grievances dating back to the signing of the Malaysia Agreement 1963, which they argue was neither fully understood by the people of Borneo nor implemented in the way it was initially promised. Calls to revisit or even nullify the agreement have been mounting, especially in light of a growing sense of disenfranchisement among the indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak.

Voices of Resistance Amidst Threats

Despite the peaceful nature of their demonstrations and outreach efforts, activists involved in the independence movement have faced numerous challenges. RSNB, SSRANZ, and SSKM have all reported receiving threats, including warnings that members could face imprisonment if they return to Malaysia. However, the growing international presence of these organizations, particularly in Australia and New Zealand, has allowed them to continue their advocacy while highlighting the plight of Sabah and Sarawak on the global stage.

Rallying for Global Attention

As the peaceful demonstration approaches, organizers are hopeful that it will not only shed light on the issues faced by the Borneo states but also garner international support for their cause. The event, they hope, will serve as a platform for the people of Sabah and Sarawak to share their stories and push for a resolution to what they perceive as a long-standing injustice.

With the upcoming demonstration on September 15, 2024, the voices of Sabah and Sarawak are growing louder, calling for an end to what they describe as six decades of occupation and a new chapter of independence and self-determination.

In rural areas, not many have yet ever heard about MA63 and even in towns and cities in Sabah and Sarawak, many people never heard about MA63.

Legal opinions in UN Secretariat clearly mentioned that Malaysia is not a new nation but a nation with a change of name to Malaysia. This means Malaysia is Malaya and Malaya is Malaysia. UN secretariat legal opinions are also of the opinion that Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore were gifted by UK to enlarge Malaya. Tunku in a book titled Conversation with Tunku Abdul Rahman at page 86 also mentioned Singapore Sabah and Sarawak were a gift to Malaya and Tunku also wrote a letter of thanks to the Queen for the gift.

Therefore, it was a fraud because there was no referendum at that time for people of Sabah and Sarawak to decide for themselves whether or not they wish to join Malaya to create Malaysia.

UK and Malaya cleverly overcome the need of a referendum to settle this issue by circumventing United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1514 of right of colonized countries for self determination by way of assessment of 4000 odd Sabahans and Sarawakians by the Cobbold Commission and came with a doctored report to say peoples of Sabah and Sarawak wanted Malaysia. How could these 4000 odds could represent the voice of 1.3 million Borneo people at that time? 

Please read the book by Prof Michael Leigh the demands by Tunku that Cobbold Commission Report must show that peoples of Borneo Territories wanted Malaysia.None of the members of Cobbold Commission could speak and understand the native languages of Sabah and Sarawak and most of our people were illiterate and could not at that time understand English. They could not understand the purpose of the Cobbold Commission which came with a report within weeks only. How could they able to travel the length and breadth of Sabah and Sarawak to find the true wishes of the people?

There are evidence in our hands that those who disagree with MALAYSIA were arrested and tortured and branded as terrorists and communists. They had to save their lives and hid themselves in the jungle and took arms to defend themselves. To take arms to defend yourself against being killed is legal under domestic and international law. 

Indonesian President Soekarno and the Philippines were against MALAYSIA and this caused the border wars in 1960s which also led to peace settlement by signing the Manila Accord with a promise by Malaya to hold a referendum but until now this was not fulfilled.

Records also showed that officials from the United Nations were "handpicked" to agree with the Cobbold Commission Report. A guy was said known could be bribed.

When fraud was involved in the creation of Malaysia, we could not allow the dead child Malaysia be revived.  In law, the law could not help any fraud.

Although in the federal constitution etc it mentioned that Sabah and Sarawak are federated with Malaya or helped formed Malaysia, but in reality, politically Sabah and Sarawak are colonies of Malaya. 

Malaya controls parliament and the federal cabinet and controls the state government by proxies in past 60 years. Malaya also have political parties from Malaya like PKR, PAS, Bersatu, DAP, MUDA fighting for seats in Sabah and Sarawak. Seats won by them are seats taken away from Sabah and Sarawak. 

Sabah and Sarawak are only given 56 out of 222 MP seats. 

At the moment, not many could be bothered to say MA63 is a fraud or that Sabah and Sarawak are colonies of Malaya. At the same time, not many feel the pain of loss of marine wealth, oil and gas and natural resources being taken by Malaya because things are not from their pockets.

Under international law, colonizers have the legal right to impose their wills on their colonies including their religion and imposing their culture, language and administration on the colonised. This gave rise to slavery by colonisers against the colonized. Please see Africa until now.

PBK has no means at the moment to set the matter straight due to lack of support, manpower and fund. It is the people's power that is important in politics. I personally believe time will come people will seek justice in the streets and there will be a peaceful revolution against MALAYSIA or the federal government. We have seen this in many African countries and even in the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand had "tasted" street revolution.

You couldn't seek justice in many matters in Malaysian Court and I had discussed this with an eminent foreign law professor and a foreign judge.

Voon Lee Shan
President Parti Bumi Kenyalang

After the video went viral, many people had scare members to the public and members of Parti Bumi to say it is a sedition and treason to seek independence.

I wish to clarify as a lawyer that, there is nothing seditious and nothing a treason to peacefully and by lawful means, to speak and to seek independence. People in authority could not simply abuse the law to arrest and threaten any citizen who are acting within the law. If this is done, people will not be happy. Such an abuse can also lead to the fall of the government.

Lawyers, law professors and activists had in past many years been speaking about freedom and right to independence. There is also a right to freedom of speech under the federal constitution

To seek independence by lawful and peaceful means could not also be branded as traitors too.

This is protected under domestic and international laws.

Article 10 of the Constitution of Malaysia guarantees Malaysian citizens the right to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of association. I hope this is clear to all citizens.

Citizens may need to know unlike Thailand, Malaysia does not have lese majeste laws, which criminalises offences against the monarch.

This is because the Federal Constitution is clear that we are a constitutional monarchy and treason is not an offence in the law books. No one has ever been charged with such a crime because it does not exist.

On law of treason, one can only be charged with waging war against the King and Rulers under Section 121 of the Penal Code. How could it be a waging of war against the King if no weapons or firearms are used? This is quite a common sense thing in which could be understood by all law abiding citizens.

Likewise The Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971, which criminalises the use of firearms illegally could not be used against citizens who speak and ask for freedom and independence if no ams are used.

In the 1960s people resorted to arms to oppose Malaysia Proposal and the way the did this was not correct under the law. For that reason, many were arrested under the Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA). There is no more ISA now because ISA had been abolished by the government.

 Security Offences (Special Measures)Act 1971 (in short, SOSMA), a replacement for ISA is a law which governs the procedures relating to the arrest, temporary detention, investigation and trial of an individual in place of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) in cases relating to offenses against the state, offences relating to terrorism, organised crime and human trafficking. The law could also not be used against any activists or citizens who speak and seek independence with lawful means and without weapon.

If it is seditious and treason, then Tunku Abdul Rahman, David Marshall and Lee Kuan Yew should have been arrested by the British for seeking independence from the Queen of England when they went to UK before MALAYSIA came into being. It was very easy for them to be arrested because they were in British soils at that time.

Instead, upon Tunku Abdul Rahman's request, Malaya was granted independence in 1957.

David Marshall and Lee Kuan Yew's request for independence before the formation of Malaysia in 1963 was turned down by the Queen because the British government wanted to hand Singapore and other British territories in Borneo (Brunei, Sabah and Sarawak) to form Malaya.

The law of sedition and treason were enacted by the British and been adopted by Malaysia after Malaysia gained independence in 1957. Then why Lee Kuan Yew was not arrested by Malaya when Lee Kuan Yew was seeking independence from Malaysia? Lee Kuan Yew then became prime minister of an independent Singapore in 1965 after Singapore left Malaysia. Now, Lee Hsien Loong is the Prime minister of Singapore why Malaysia had not arrested him?

Those who are against independence for Sarawak should in fact be accused as traitors for not pursuing and protecting the intrinsic right of Sarawak to gain independence. The right to independence is allowed under international law.

Voon Lee Shan

President,

Parti Bumi Kenyalang

KUALA LUMPUR – Some 60% of East Malaysians are calling for Sabah and Sarawak to leave Malaysia as they are disappointed with the development funds allocated in Budget 2022.

Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan (Star-Keningau) pointed out the disparity in the national plan, which allocated RM9.8 billion for Sabah and Sarawak while Peninsular Malaysia receives RM67.8 billion.

He said that it is important for the federal government to take into account the grouses of the people of Sabah and Sarawak.

“I hope the prime minister listens to the voices from Sabah and Sarawak, and saves Malaysia from breaking up,” Jeffrey said while debating Budget 2022 in Parliament today.

Jeffrey said the annual budget does not comply with Putrajaya’s Keluarga Malaysia concept, as Sabah and Sarawak are treated similarly to stepchildren.

He reminded the august House that when Malaysia was formed 58 years ago, Sabah and Sarawak joined the federation as equal partners and not as a colonised territory.

“Facts show that the federal government purposely made Sabah and Sarawak dependent on Putrajaya.

“What is the motive? So that Sabah and Sarawak will forever be ruled by the peninsula?” Jeffrey queried.

Given that revenues from Sabah are estimated to be around RM60 billion to RM100 billion, Jeffrey said that the federal government should pay the state RM20 billion to RM36 billion a year.

However, for 52 years Sabah was paid RM26.7 million, except in 2020 when the Warisan Plus-led state government agreed to receive RM53.4 million.

“I want to ask, where are the billions of ringgit owed to Sabah?

“Was it misused to develop the peninsula?” Jeffrey added.

Despite Sabah being the largest producer of crude oil in Malaysia, Jeffrey highlighted the fact that Sabah remains the poorest state in the country.

He urged the government to show their commitment by adding an allocation of RM2 billion for Sabah and Sarawak to rid its residents of any disappointment. – The Vibes, November 8, 2021

Azis Jamman, who previously said that Warisan was unhappy with the RM5.2 billion allocated to the state, again raised the spectre of Sabah seceding from Malaysia over what he calls “the discriminatory treatment”.

Azis said such calls were growing louder, even in Sarawak.

“And if Putrajaya continues to treat us like a step-child, don’t blame us if the movement to liberate Sabah from Putrajaya’s colonialism grows stronger,” he said when debating the federal budget in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He also questioned why the recently tabled federal budget was “divisive” in nature, when race and religion was never a factor when it came to tax collection.

The Sepanggar MP said it was a step backwards for the government to be allocating funds according to race and religion.

“We are supposed to be building a nation, not a particular race or religion.  We are supposed to be uniting the people, not dividing them,” he said.

Azis said that if a husband and wife could part ways, so could Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia.

He went on to say that both Singapore and Brunei were able to survive independently despite being smaller nations.

“I am confident that with our natural resources, Sabah too can be independent.”

He also said if the terms under MA63 were contravened, it could be declared null and void.

“And I would like to remind Putrajaya that there is no Malaysia without Sabah.”

Yesterday, Perikatan Nasional deputy chairman Jeffrey Kitingan warned Putrajaya against mistreating Sabah and Sarawak, which he labelled as Malaysia’s golden geese.

Kitingan claimed that some 60% of East Malaysians were calling for Sabah and Sarawak to leave Malaysia after they were allocated RM5.2 billion and RM4.6 billion, respectively, in development funds for next year.

“Please don’t try to kill the ‘golden geese’ or they will fly away,” he said.

Source: Free Malaysia Today