Sabahans and Sarawakians view with grave concern that certain groups in Malaya are dealing with the Hudud issue as an exclusively Malayan issue, which only involve Malayans or Malays.
We are greatly disappointed by an all-Malayan panel by an MCA-organised panel on Hudud this Sunday and urge the organizer rectifying this omission by inviting a Sabah or Sarawak representative.
We urge all parties accept that Malaysia is a federation formed with equal partnership of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and then Singapore. All matters affecting the fundamental nature of the Federation of Malaysia must be decided in an inclusive and consensual manner, and not by majoritarian voting.
No Malayans should subconsciously harbor “colonial master” mentality that decisions can be made in Kuala Lumpur without consulting Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.
The unilateral decision of Tunku and UMNO to expel Singapore from Malaysia without consulting Sabah and Sarawak had greatly affect Sabahans and Sarawakians, and is one of the very reasons until today Sabahans and Sarawakians experience second-class citizenship in the eyes of Kuala Lumpur.
Sabahans and Sarawakians today will not tolerate any unilateral attempt to alter the nature of the Federation of Malaysia without consulting the people of the two states.
Any parties trying to push their agenda through majoritarian politics should bear full responsibility for any implications of their actions that may undo Malaysia.
In that sense, the forum titled “Hudud in Malaysia: Can We? Should We?” organised by MCA this coming Sunday presenting not a single representative for Sabah and Sarawak amongst a host of nine panelists is gravely insulting.
Does MCA think Sabah and Sarawak have no legitimate interest or opinion on Hudud or that Sabah and Sarawak cannot present even one speaker on the matter? We call upon MCA to rectify this mistake before Sunday.
The exclusion has unfortunately compromised an otherwise positive move to encourage dialogues and debates on Hudud.
We are also appalled that the Sabah branch of MCA is either so ineffective or insignificant to make its national headquarter recognize the rights of Sabahans and Sarawakians to be heard.
All Sabahan and Sarawakian parties — even as chapters of national parties or members of national coalitions — must not let their political affiliation compromise the right of Sabah and Sarawak to participate in national decision-making.
In that context, we would like to praise the organisers of another forum titled “Hudud @ Malaysia?” at Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall on May 2nd for presenting an inclusive four-member panel, including a representative from Sabah and Sarawak, i.e., Mr Abun Siu Anyit, legal adviser of Save Sarawak Rivers.
We strongly urge all forums and seminars on Hudud and other national matters should present an all-Malaysian – instead of an all-Malayan — line-up of speakers or panelists.