Autonomy advocacy group challenges tribal chiefs

KUCHING: The autonomy advocacy group Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) has challenged the statement by several “ketua kaum” (chieftains) in Serian that the S4S carnival is not welcome as it would disrupt the local peace.

A group of Serian community leaders held a peaceful demonstration at Taman Komuniti Serian yesterday to protest the venue being used this Friday (July 22) by S4S for a gathering to commemorate Sarawak Independence Day.

Community leaders from Serian, led by Bidayuh Temenggong Henry Bujang Sadok, told reporters yesterday they were protesting against S4S using the Serian community park as it may disrupt the peace.

“Our main concern is that these outside elements might poison the local populace with cultures or norms which are alien to them,” he was quoted as saying.

S4S today denied that the protest would be disruptive and said the protest was staged by the local authorities and did not reflect the views of the local residents.

“The so-called protest yesterday was mostly by people who receive an allowance from the District Office.

“What’s more, many of them were engaging in a protest in their government uniforms!” said Peter John Jaban, a group spokesperson for the event.

He described the protest as a “cynical attempt” by the authorities there to prevent the event from going ahead at all costs, “even going so far as to spread misinformation about the group and the law in the villages”.

Apple Chong, Serian S4S spokesperson from Siburan, also in the Serian Division, said it was local residents who had asked for the event to be held in Serian this year.

“Here, we can have more people from the kampungs to join us. The Serian group wants to share the history of Sarawak with them and also to bring more visitors and business to our town. This is why we still want to proceed.”

He said Kuching S4S members had prior experience holding events and described the Serian police authorities as being heavy-handed in the handling of the Peaceful Assembly procedures.

He said the authorities were quite happy to misrepresent the law on several occasions, even going so far as to suggest that the group hold the event in a prohibited place under the Act.

Peter said the group had decided to go ahead with Friday’s event because they know the community is behind them.

“It will be a happy, harmonious and successful event.”