Three political parties will debate “Safeguard Sarawak”, the theme.
PKR Sarawak will be represented by Opposition Chief Baru Bian, SUPP will field Milton Foo and Michael Liang as a team on behalf of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN), while PBDS has confirmed that Patrick Anek Anak Uren will represent the newly re-registered party. “This is the next step in the ongoing political awakening of Sarawak,” added Jaban. “After 53 years spent slumbering, our homeland is finally emerging as a force to be reckoned with in the immediate future.”
“We are pioneering a rakyat-focused event during which political hopefuls will debate their policies for protecting Sarawak’s rights.”
Besides the general public, university students, political parties and civil society groups are expected to turn up, continued Jaban. “They can hear, for themselves, all the questions in their minds being debated by the party representatives.”
The debate would be a chance to share knowledge, test parameters for action and find a way forward, ventured Jaban.
“A lot of people are observing what we are doing,” chipped in Erick Chin, S4S Spokesman for Northern Sarawak. “As a group, we have grown in size and strength over the last few years. Now, the world is watching us.”
He conceded that many political parties have held back, “nervous to commit to a new, more accountable frontier in Sarawak politics”.
“This is a rakyat-led event with no agenda other than openness and transparency, from all sides, for the voting public.”
All participants will be treated equally on the debate platform, he assured. “If they are sincere about safeguarding Sarawak, we will approach them with equal sincerity.”
Jaban, resuming, believes that Sarawak can move towards a system where the people are properly informed about their role in the democratic process. “So many mature democracies consider debates central to the decision making process, for example the US, Norway and the UK. The list goes on.”
“It’s not surprising that those politicians who have prospered under the old, feudal system of lawmakers at the top and the people below have decided not to participate in the debate or even attend it. They refuse to embrace change. They can’t accept that they would no longer be calling the shots.”
Jaban called for the old ways to be discarded. “Sarawakians want to move forward and claim their rightful position in the sun.”
“We must embrace new ways of working and new opportunities for dialogue.”
He warned that lawmakers can no longer hide “in the safety of events where they control the outcome”. “The rakyat will set the terms from now on.”
The rights of Sarawak are on the line, he argued in summation. “If we want the return of Full Autonomy, it can only be through our own efforts.”
“Only then will Sarawak be safeguarded.”