Police have recommended to the Attorney-General’s Chambers that charges be filed against Sarawakian activists who did not stand up when the national anthem was played at a recent event.
Federal Criminal Investigation Department principal assistant director Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said nine activists from the Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) group had been questioned for failing to show respect to the national anthem at a fundraising event in Kuching last week.
“The investigation paper had been referred to the state Attorney-General’s Chambers for further action. We have suggested for them to be charged,” Mior was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini at a press conference this morning.
The activists, aged between 34 and 64, were investigated under the National Anthem Act 1968. Conviction carries a fine of up to RM100 or a month in prison.
A spokesman for S4S, Alex Leong had said that their refusal to stand for the ‘Negaraku’ was meant as a silent protest against Putrajaya’s unfair policies towards Sarawak.
A police report was lodged against the group after a video of their protest was shared on social media.
Mior today said police did not consider the fact that the activists were protesting as a mitigating factor
“They (the members) have explained, the reason they did not stand up was to protest.
“In our investigation, we did not take that into account. This is because when the national anthem is played, it’s the duty of every Malaysian citizen to show respect,” he said.
The 22-second clip of the members refusing to stand during the national anthem at a fundraising event made its round on social media.
Subsequently, the pressure group said that it was a protest against the promises not delivered to their state.
Sarawak formed Malaysia together with Sabah, Singapore and Malaya in 1963, although Singapore left the federation two years later.
‘Negaraku’ was chosen as the anthem for Malaya at its independence in 1957.
Pro-autonomy activists in Sarawak are calling for the restoration of state rights under the 1963 agreement on the formation of Malaysia.
They say state rights have been eroded over the years by the federal government.
According to a report in Free Malaysia Today, S4S member Shaow Tung Leong, also known as Alex Leong, said “Malaya” had been “very unfair” to Sarawak and Sarawakians.
He said because of this, his group refused to stand up when the ‘Negaraku’ was played.
Leong, who is mentioned on his Facebook page as a former reporter and editor, cited the distribution of Sarawak’s oil and gas resources as an example of how he feels the state has been exploited by the federal government since the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
He also cited the statement by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the federal government was not in a position to fulfil its promise to raise the oil royalty to 20 per cent for Sabah and Sarawak, which is what his Pakatan Harapan coalition had promised.
“So why should we stand up when the national anthem is being played?” Leong said.
He said that ‘Negaraku’ was chosen as Malaya’s anthem for 1957 and was not the anthem of the federation.
“Sarawak only joined Malaysia in 1963. They should create a new song for the federation of Malaysia. Why are they still singing ‘Negaraku’?” he added.