GPS all for restoration of Sarawak, Sabah status: Ding

KUCHING: Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Democratic Action Party’s (DAP) attempt to hoodwink Sarawakians into believing the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government were opposing the restoration of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners was malicious.
 
Datuk Ding Kuong Hiing (GPS-Meradong) said this couldn’t be further from the truth and was relieved that the tenure of PH-DAP at the federal government was short and brief.
 
In saying this, he pointed out that the amendment to Article 161A clauses (6) and (7) of the Federal Constitution is a far cry from the superficial and cosmetic constitution amendment put up by PH.
 
“History has once again proved that the GPS government is the true champion of defending the rights and privileges of all Sarawakians. This is evident when GPS returned with an overwhelming mandate during the just concluded state election.
 
“By the same token of nonperforming and non-delivery of promises, PH-DAP was rejected by Sarawakians,” he said this when debating in support of the Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill, 2022 during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today.
 
Ding noted that the Interpretation (Amendment) Bill 2022 is consequential to the recent amendment of Federal Constitution.
 
“The Bill aim to supplement the principle ordinance by providing a more comprehensive list of races that is considered to be indigenous of Sarawak and satisfy the conditions and requirements imposed by the State Government Meeting Council for recognition of such a person as a native of Sarawak,” he said.
 
Commenting on a DAP assemblyman to include the third generation Sarawakians of Chinese, Indian or any race not mentioned in the Schedule of the Interpretation Ordinance to be considered as natives of the state, he described it as an attempt to be a champion and for cheap publicity.
 
“The Han Chinese in China have been there for thousands of years, but in today’s China they are not considered as native. Similarly in Australia, the Whites have been there for over 200 years and they are not considered as native even though they are the third or fourth generation.
 
“So, I would like to urge members of the opposition bench to not try to get cheap publicity by going to the press at the first opportunity, but debate it out in DUN or Dewan Rakyat if you are an MP,” he added.