KUCHING: The recent call for national unity by DAP’s Wong Lee Ting has sparked a firm reminder from Sarawak that true unity must begin with constitutional respect and historical accuracy, not vague platitudes.
Responding to Wong’s article “We Are All Malaysians,” Political Secretary to the Premier Kua Jack Seng said the spirit of unity must not come at the expense of Sarawak’s identity and status as an equal founding partner in the formation of Malaysia.
“Sarawak did not join Malaysia — we formed it. This is not a matter of semantics, but a legal and historical fact under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Calling for harmony without acknowledging the imbalance Sarawak has endured risks silencing legitimate demands for fairness. We will never apologise for asserting our rights,” said Kua in a statement today.
Kua stressed that while Sarawakians are proud Malaysians, their national identity is rooted in mutual respect and constitutional balance—not imposed uniformity.
He said calls to “let go of labels” and “stop dividing ourselves” may appear noble, but can dangerously oversimplify the longstanding structural inequalities between Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.
He also reiterated Sarawak’s key demands such as the full implementation of MA63, restoration of one-third parliamentary seat allocation, greater share of oil and gas revenues and protection of Sarawak’s multicultural and multireligious identity.
“These are not excessive demands — they are long overdue corrections to decades of centralisation.
“Sarawak has given much, especially in natural resources. It’s time we received fairness in return,” he said.
He added that true Malaysian unity cannot be built by erasing identities or demanding endless compromise from one side.
“We want a Malaysia that listens, not lectures. That honours MA63 not just in speeches, but in implementation. Yes, we are all Malaysians — but we are also Sarawakians. And that matters deeply to us.”
