Riot: Question of Sarawak leaving Malaysia is a non-issue

SHAH ALAM: Sarawak will not leave or secede from Malaysia, a Sarawak lawmaker said today.
Serian MP Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem said that the question of Sarawak leaving Malaysia is a non-issue.
"Sarawak will never leave Malaysia, it is not even a question of us leaving and it never even came across or entered my mind," he said.
This comes after some 5,000 people attended a rally in Kuching calling for better treatment and equal rights to be accorded by the federal government.
Entitled the "722 Sarawak Freedom and Independence Day Walk", the rally called for July 22 to be gazetted as a public holiday, in recognition of Sarawak's independence in the history curriculum, reinstatement of English as the medium of instruction in schools, greater infrastructure development in rural areas and for the government to grant the state fair equity in oil and gas.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar had earlier advised the organisers to call off the event over concerns that it could incite secessionist sentiments.
However, Riot said the rally was organised by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the authorities can't stop them from converging or gathering.
Riot, who is also Human Resources Minister, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak will listen to Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem's requests, among them being making July 22 a public holiday, as the Prime Minister holds Sarawak in good esteem.
"I know the Prime Minister will listen to Sarawak because he is very close to Sarawak," he said when speaking to the media at the inaugural Human Resources Development Fund apprenticeship scheme convocation here.
Adnan also reiterated in reports earlier that Sarawak will not secede from Malaysia.