KUCHING: Revisionist historian and author, Lina Soo will hold a public talk on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the Sarawak Oil Mining Ordinance in Sibu this Sunday starting at 2pm at Paramount Hotel. Soo is the author of two books on Sarawak based upon the British declassified colonial documents obtained firsthand from the National Archives in London viz “Sarawak The Real Deal” and “Sarawak Chronicle”.
“Sarawak The Real Deal” deals with Sarawak’s response to the Malaysia Plan in the 1960s, while “Sarawak Chronicle” collates all the important constitutional documents of Sarawak from 1841 to 1963.
These two books form part of Soo’s Sarawak Book Tour together with her OMO Roadshow. Also available for purchase at the talks are the compilation of Sarawak and Malaysia documents – Sarawak Oil Mining Ordinance 1958 and Amendment 2018, Inter-Governmental Report 1962 and its interpretation by the Colonial Office, Malaysia Agreement 1963 and Malaysia Act 1963 into one bumper edition for easy reference.
Soo will talk about the effects and implications of OMO which is the ultimate game changer for Sarawak in its need to strengthen its economic independence and sustainability. Soo reiterates that Sarawak remains landowner with possession and sovereignty over oil and gas found in Sarawak as was already ordained long before the formation of Malaysia.
“We don’t have to be a beggar in our land, and there can be no compromise with Petronas over OMO which spells out Sarawak’s rights over oil and gas very explicitly,” says Soo. At the talk, she will give a briefing on MA63 and the MA63 Special Committee. The session will end with a debate involving all participants with the purpose to draw up resolution(s) to reflect the people’s aspirations for a stronger Sarawak, which will be presented to the State Legislative Assembly. Admission to the talk is free. For details, Soo can be reached at 014-5950511.
