No need for referendum in Sabah, S’wak

KOTA KINABALU: There is no need for a referendum to determine whether Sabah and Sarawak want out of the Malaysian Federation, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri said today.

She said the people of Malaysia, including those in Sabah and Sarawak, had worked as a team to develop the country and it was unfair to neglect those who helped Sabah and Sarawak achieve “what they have today”.

“I don’t think there is a need for that yet. There is no need for a referendum because there are more people talking about being in Malaysia, rather than out.

“That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t fight for development to be on par with our counterparts in Peninsular Malaysia,” said Shukri after launching the Seminar on Rights and Issues of Women and Children at Wisma Wanita today.

The seminar was organised by the Judicial and Legal Training Institute (Ilkap), an agency under the Prime Minister’s Department, in collaboration with the Sabah Women Advisory Council. Also present was Sabah attorney-general and council chairman Mariati Robert.

She was asked on whether there was a need for a referendum in Sabah and Sarawak, as was enacted by the United Kingdom government in Scotland.

Nancy, who is also the Batang Sadong MP, said the people of Sabah and Sarawak enjoyed development under Malaysia, including education, security and infrastructure, and were accorded some of the special rights.

She also reiterated that the Sedition Act 1948 was essential in safeguarding security, harmony and unity in the country. – Bernama