Karim: Sarawak’s rights eroded during Dr M’s era

 

The state minister says he hopes the former prime minister will fight to return the state rights and apologise to the people of Sarawak.

(FMT) – Sarawak lost most of its rights enshrined under Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) when Dr Mahathir Mohamad was the prime minister, said a state minister yesterday.

“It is good to see the former premier coming back to Sarawak to meet the people as he has hardly done so in the past,” Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said at a press conference.

Karim said Mahathir was free come to the state as Malaysia was a democratic country and its citizens were free to move around the country without restriction, as long as they abided the law, reported the Borneo Post Online.

Karim was commenting about Mahathir’s first visit to Sarawak as leader of the opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan on Sunday.

Mahathir, who is Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman, together with DAP leader Lim Kit Siang and Parti Amanah Negara leader Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli, is expected to give a talk at Pakatan Harapan Sarawak’s political gathering at Taman BDC Everrise car park in Kuching at 7pm.

Karim said it was good that the former prime minister was willing to give a speech on the streets and willing to meet the people at the BDC Everrrise car park.

He said if only Mahathir had that same strong enthusiasm and drive for Sarawak when he was the prime minister and had the authority to make changes.

Karim hoped the former premier this time would fight to return the state rights and apologise to the people of Sarawak.