COVID-19 has torpedoed a plan by the Sarawak Association for People’s Aspiration to hold a flag-raising ceremony in conjunction with the state’s independence day at Padang Merdeka in Kuching tomorrow.

The pro-independence group’s president, Dominique Ng, said his application for the event was not approved by the state Disaster Management Committee (DMC) due to a spike in coronavirus cases in the district.

He was hoping to continue what he had done for eight years – from 2005 to 2013, when the government finally accorded recognition – raising the Jalur Gemilang at the field to commemorate Malaysia Day with family, friends and activists.

“I wouldn’t give two hoots about not having a police permit because in the past, (the event) was routinely denied on political grounds.

“I’ve never feared arrest or detention for a worthy cause,” said the senior lawyer, alluding to the arrests and harassment he endured over those eight years.

The concerns raised by the state DMC, however, are “a totally different thing”, he said.

“The reasons they gave are legitimate and noteworthy. There indeed has been an unexpected increase in Covid-19 cases in Kuching.

“To put the health and safety of fellow Sarawakians at risk is not acceptable.”

The former PKR assemblyman said the event will now be a “small, small one” held at his law firm in a residential area of Poh Kwong Park.

He will be joined by fellow pro-independence activist Voon Lee Shan, who is Parti Bumi Kenyalang president.

Last week, Deputy Chief Minister and state DMC chairman Douglas Uggah Embas said Sarawak is seeing the start of a second wave of infections.

The state has recorded 24 coronavirus cases since Friday. – July 21, 2020.