THE grounds of the Sarawak Museum in Kuching – the venue of the alternative Sarawak Day gathering – could turn into a sea of red today.

Event organisers Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) and Sarawak Dayak Iban Association have appealed to those planning to attend to don the colour, as it represented solidarity and “a sign that we are still seeing red”.

S4S spokesman Peter John Jaban said Sarawak folk were still seeing red over many matters on state-federal relations, such as non-compliance with the Malaysia Agreement 1963, oil and gas revenue, tourism tax, attacks on religious freedom and the ban on having tattoos among police personnel.

“Sarawakians must stand together to show that we support the state government’s direction. We no longer accept the status quo.”

He asked that Sarawak folk “wear red to the coffeeshop, wear red when shopping, wear red to the ‘kebun’ (farm)”.

Just a kilometre from the musem grounds, official ceremonies marking Sarawak Day will be held at the Kuching waterfront.

Jaban allayed fears of a repeat of what had happened in 2015, when the 722 Sarawak Freedom and Independence Walk rally had a brush with the police, saying the force had been informed of this year’s event and that they “support the gathering”.

He was among 13 people questioned by police over the event, which drew 5,000 people to the Song Kheng Hai rugby field in Padungan, that year.

Then deputy home minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar had said that while the event was carried out in accordance with the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, the organisers had not sought police permission “to determine the proper venue for the event”.

No one was charged over the gathering.

Starting this year, Sarawak Day is a public holiday. – July 22, 2017.