MIRI: Sarawakians are urged to continue to be united to ensure that Sarawak’s rights and interests are duly respected, honoured and adhered to by the federal government.

In making the call, state Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin stressed that any rights that have been taken away or eroded over the years should be restored back to Sarawak.

Lee said the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is actively pursuing this subject matter and a special committee under the State Legislative Assembly was formed with its main agenda is to restore Sarawak’s oil and gas rights under the state’s Oil Mining Ordinance.

“As Sarawakians, we must not easily succumb or surrender to any challenges ahead of us because with racial unity, political stability and able leadership that we have, we can overcome whatever challenges that we faced.

“Unity in diversity in race and culture is an international brand for Sarawak. United we stand to develop our beloved Sarawak so that our state will achieve its developed status by 2030 as aspired by our chief minister,” he said when delivering his speech during the 2020 Sarawak Day Celebration at Pullman Miri Waterfront Hotel today.

The 2020 Sarawak Day celebration was graced by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Raghad Kurdi Taib. Also present were Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and wife Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang as well as state cabinet members.

Lee pointed out that Sarawak’s history relating to the formation of Malaysia should be incorporated in our schools’ history textbook.

He said such effort is vital to promote better understanding among the younger generation on the rights and interests of Sarawak.

“Sarawak Day represents an identity for Sarawakians. It is imperative that Sarawak’s history relating to the formation of Malaysia such as the Malaysia Agreement, the Cobold Commission Report, the Inter-Governmental Committee Report, salient provisions in the Sarawak Constitution and Malaysia Constitution and other relevant historical facts should be incorporated in our schools’ history textbook.

“This will help to promote better understanding, especially among our younger generations in the country so that the rights and interests of Sarawak will not be questioned or challenged unnecessarily.

On the Sarawak Day, he said the occasion is very meaningful to the Sarawakians because on July 22, some 57 year ago, Sarawak was granted self-government by the British.

Lee added that when the Union Jack Flag was lowered, the Sarawak cabinet was formed which saw Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan being appointed as the first Chief Minister of Sarawak and his cabinet members were made up of the local people in the state.

Therefore, he said the Sarawak Day celebration is important to remind the people on the past leaders’ contributions and their struggles.

Lee said it was for this reason that former Chief Minister the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem had on 2016 announced July 22 as a public holiday in Sarawak so that all Sarawakians could appreciate the importance of Sarawak Day celebration.

Touching on the celebration tonight, Lee who is also minister-in-charge for the celebration this year thanked the state government for selecting Miri as the host the Sarawak Day celebration themed ‘Sarawak Cemerlang’.

He also said it was the first time for the state government to carry out the celebration virtually under the new normal due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

“This time, the concept of celebration is very different from the previous years celebration because we have to comply with the standard operating procedure (SOP) during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The tonight event, for example, where the celebration attendees have been limited and they must also wear face masks.”

Since the current situation did not allow for the event to be carried out in traditional way, the celebration which started at 9pm, was broadcast live from Miri through various media broadcasting platform like TV3, UKAS Youtube Channel, Astro Awani, Sarawak Event Channel and TV Sarawak.

A variety of digital programmes had been arranged by the event’s main organiser; the State Protocol and Event Management Unit (Uppan) such as the opening dance performance, symbolic opening ceremony, special documentary, Kampong Selepar Putus sitcom, medley of song performances as well as a segment on ‘Aspirasi Rakyat’.