KUALA LUMPUR – Stakan Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) chairman Datuk Sim Kiang Chiok has expressed concerns that the “Malayan brand of racial politics has infiltrated” Sarawak.
He voiced this fear in response to the Sunday attack on the KK Mart Jalan Satok outlet with a molotov cocktail, amid controversies surrounding the “Allah” socks issue.
“It is evident that the KK Mart Jalan Satok incident was influenced by Umno, a party from Malaya that has no place in Sarawak,” he said in a press statement yesterday.
He said all Gabungan Parti Sarawak leaders have expressed the sentiment that Sarawakians should not be swayed by the events in Malaya as they have become “toxic”.
The Sarawakian leader said the incident at the convenience store is an example of how “Malayan politics” is encroaching upon Sarawakian society.
“We must act swiftly to prevent Malayan-style politics from infiltrating Sarawak, and the most meaningful way to achieve this is by voting out all Malayan-based parties from Sarawak.
“We cannot continue to support them at the polls and then expect their practices not to affect Sarawak.
“Although the elections are still a long way off, voters must recognise the dangers posed by allowing Malayan-style politics to take root in Sarawak.
“We must chart a new path forward. We need autonomy, and for that to happen, we must fully empower GPS and ensure that the voice of Sarawak is heard on the national stage,” he said.
“Stakan branch urges all Sarawakians to uphold our values and refrain from engaging in vigilante or superhero actions, as they only mirror the behaviour seen in our counterparts in Malaya.”
“Racial tensions are escalating in Malaya, and together, we call upon true Sarawakians to lead by example and avoid resorting to violence – unlike the situation in Malaya,” he added.
Sim said the country has laws, and all must abide by them rather than taking matters into their own hands, as that may lead to chaos and violence becoming normalised.
“Nevertheless, we have faith that the perpetrator who threw the molotov cocktail will be swiftly apprehended by our police, and we trust that rationality will prevail in Sarawak.
“Therefore, we urge the public to remain calm and allow the legal system to handle the situation. Let us uphold the peaceful nature of Sarawak that we all cherish,” he said. – April 4, 2024