KUCHING: Sarawak leaders have assured that there is no plan to change the present state anthem Ibu Pertiwiku.
They were asked for their comments after Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party (Aspirasi) Lina Soo created a poll on Facebook asking Sarawakians whether the state anthem should be changed from Fair Land Sarawak to Sarawak Darul Hana.
State Legislative Assembly (DUN) deputy speaker Datuk Gerawat Gala said there was no intention nor plan to change the current Sarawak anthem.
“Just ignore these types of news. They are just to get people’s attention and create unnecessary suspicions,” he said.
Gerawat added the focus now should be on building up and helping the community to grow and develop.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth deputy chief Miro Simuh said there had never been any discussions in Cabinet meetings and dialogues on the issue.
Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Youth chief Robert Ayu said Ibu Pertiwiku was the state anthem.
“Since when did we go back to Fair Land Sarawak? I have never heard of a state anthem called Sarawak Darul Hana,” he said.
He also questioned Lina’s intention of creating the poll.
Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Women chief Kho Teck Wan said people should not waste their time on unverified news from an unknown source.
“I encourage political leaders to use their time and energy on people in their constituencies. Stop spreading unverified news and rumours,” she said.
Meanwhile, majority of the Facebook users, in replying to Lina’s post, said they strongly disagreed with the change.
Ibu Pertiwiku was adopted as the state anthem in 1988 — Wan Othman Hamid composed the music while Ismail Hassan wrote the lyrics.
