Kota Samarahan group questions MPKS decision not to send representative for assembly

KUCHING (Aug 28): A community group in Kota Samarahan has questioned the Kota Samarahan Municipal Council’s (MPKS) decision not to send a representative to receive a memorandum during a planned peaceful assembly this Sunday (Aug 30).

The assembly, organised by a group of local indigenous residents, is scheduled to begin at 10.30am at Bandar Riyal Market in Kota Samarahan.

Organising chairman Peter John Jaban said the group received a letter from MPKS today stating that the council did not have the capacity to attend the assembly and receive the memorandum.

He questioned why the local authority could not assign a representative to receive the memorandum and hear the community’s concerns.

“This is not merely about receiving a piece of paper. This is about respect, responsibility and accountability to the indigenous community,” he said in a statement.

Peter said the group had formally invited the MPKS chairman or a representative to attend the assembly, with copies of the invitation also sent to the Kota Samarahan Resident, Stakan assemblyman Datuk Hamzah Brahim and Kota Samarahan MP Datuk Rubiah Wang.

He stressed that the group was not demanding that MPKS immediately agree with the memorandum’s contents, but wanted its concerns to be heard.

“The rakyat are not demanding that MPKS immediately agree with every demand in our memorandum.

“We are asking for something much more basic: send a representative, receive the memorandum and listen to the people,” he said.

The assembly stems from the group’s longstanding objections to the use of the name Bandar Riyal, which Peter said was first raised by the local community in 2016.

He said the community had staged a protest and submitted a memorandum at the time, but its concerns were not addressed.

Peter said the proposed name N23 Samarindah had further strengthened the community’s resolve to defend what it regards as the historical identity and heritage of Merdang.

He said the group had made efforts to engage the authorities professionally and peacefully, and appreciated the cooperation of the Royal Malaysian Police in facilitating the assembly.

The memorandum will also be submitted to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and the Sarawak Premier’s Office.

Peter urged MPKS, the Kota Samarahan Resident and local elected representatives to attend the assembly and listen to the community’s concerns.

He warned that the group could consider organising a larger peaceful assembly if the authorities and invited representatives continued to decline to receive the memorandum.

“This is not about hatred. This is not about violence. This is about democracy, accountability and the fundamental right of the people to participate in matters affecting their community, identity and future,” he said.