In this regard, Kennedy said DNC stands firmly with other NGOs who have declared their stand. "This
was reasserted and justified by Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander
Nanta Linggi, when he stressed that Sarawak does not need to accept
refugees particularly from countries known for violence, anger, and
hatred.
"As a federal minister and the secretary general of
Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Nanta’s stand has to be taken seriously though
some said what he stressed was his personal opinion but what matters
most is the majority of the people, NGOs and political parties are with
him,” he said in a statement.
Elaborating further, Kennedy said
as an NGO with fundamental Dayak outlook and interest, DNC is voicing
the community’s concern on the possibility of the influx of Palestinian
refugees into Sarawak’s social fabric which can cause disturbances and
polarisation, and is unacceptable.
"We do not want Sarawak to pay a heavy price for this later as exemplified by what had happened in our neighbouring state. "Sarawak should look into prioritising the wellbeing of her own people and ensure the sustainable development of the state.
"Sarawak
has lots of her own poor to take care of, not only amongst the rural
populace and the town squatters but the homeless and the stateless who
are suffering silently in the dark, not to mention other social issues,”
he said.
In expressing DNC’s opposition to accepting Palestinian
refugees, Kennedy said the government should take a closer look at the
current policies adopted by some of the Gulf Arab countries which, till
today, still refuse to accept Palestinian refugees.
On a related
issue, Kennedy said it is unbecoming of Pemuda Umno chief, Dr Muhamad
Akmal Saleh, to have the audacity to demand public apology from Nanta
and to retract his words for exercising his sovereign rights.
"Datuk
Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi has no reason and no body to apologise to.
It is Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh who should apologise to Datuk Seri
Alexander Nanta Linggi and the people of Sarawak for not knowing the
sensitivity of the people of Sarawak.
"Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh and
Pemuda Umno should respect the autonomy of Sarawak’s administration.
Interference in the internal affairs of Sarawak undermines the
principles of federalism and hampers the efficient governance of our
state.
"Sarawak has her own unique set of challenges and
priorities, and it is crucial that decisions regarding the
administration of the state are made by those who understand the local
context and can best serve the interest of the people,” he said.
Instead
of interference, Kennedy said the DNC encourages constructive
engagement and collaboration between Petra Jaya and Putrajaya to address
the common concerns and work towards the collective development of
Malaysia as a whole.
"By respecting the autonomy of Sarawak and
fostering cooperation we can build a stronger and a more harmonious
nation called Malaysia Madani. "To conclude, DNC strongly urges
the state government to listen to the voices of the people who are
strongly against accepting Palestinian refugees into Sarawak shores.
"As
Sarawak is now aggressively pursuing her state’s rights and regional
issues, this is the time for her to demonstrate she meant business,
after all autonomy on immigration is with Sarawak,” he added. ― Borneo
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