KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) must remain united in defending the four fundamental rights of Sarawak that are non-negotiable.

Sarawak Deputy Premier and PBB Deputy President, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said these rights are the autonomy and immigration rights, the right to enforce taxes, the protection of state rights including the continental shelf, and the state sovereignty over natural resources in seabed and underground.

"This protection and sovereignty are rights that are guaranteed and enshrined in the Federal Constitution, and no party can question or violate these rights," he said.

He spoke at the Closing Ceremony of the 16th General Assembly of PBB officiated by Sarawak Premier and PBB President, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Sunday.

Datuk Amar Awang Tengah further emphasised that this struggle has been championed by past Sarawak leaders, including the late Tun Jugah.

"The late Tun Jugah once reminded us, 'Anang Malaysia Baka Tebu, Manis Ba Pun, Tabar Ba Ujung' (Let not Malaysia be like sugarcane, sweet at the beginning but bland at the end).

“This is what we will continue to fight for. Without the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Malaysia would not exist,” he said.

In addition, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah also stated that the Sarawak Government is still negotiating for other rights.

According to him, among the ongoing struggles are autonomy in education and healthcare, the proposal to establish a trust fund to expedite the implementation of development projects in Sarawak, and the demand for additional parliamentary seats for Sarawak and Sabah.

"Our fight is far from over. Several matters are still under negotiation and need to be pursued,” he stressed. -UKASnews