SARAWAK for Sarawakians (S4S) activists said they will never play the national anthem at any of their public functions as police today opened an investigation against seven of their members for not standing when the Negaraku was played at a fundraiser last week.

“It is a silent protest against Putrajaya for their unfair policies towards Sarawak,” said Alex Leong, after giving his statement to the police today.

Leong posted a video on the protest on his Facebook and it went viral, leading to a police report lodged against the protest.

The video was also shared on other social media platforms.

Leong said as long as Putrajaya’s unfairness continues, there will be people who will not respect the national anthem.

He said today there might be just seven of them.

“In future 100, 200 or 2,000 will not be standing up.”

Leong said his continued protest would depend on Putrajaya’s reaction.

“We are disappointed and angry.”

Leong said the disappointment and anger range failing to recognise the Malaysia Agreement 1963 to failing to amend the federal constitution, to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s perceived failure to protect territorial waters from Chinese intrusions.

“They (Putrajaya) take our oil and gas, and they can’t even protect us.”

Leong, wearing the signature black S4S T-shirt, with the slogan Sarawak for Sarawakians on the chest, said their protest will be passive “not like Hong Kong”, referring to the violent protests that have rocked the former British colony.

State deputy police commissioner Dev Kumar said in a statement that police opened the investigation after a report was lodged in Kuching today.

He said the S4S activists were being investigated under Section 8(3) of the National Anthem Act 1968 for not standing up in respect when the anthem was played.

They could be fined up to RM100 or spend one month in prison, if convicted.

The incident happened on September 27 in what was supposed to be a political fundraising dinner for Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB).

Since the party was deregistered, it became a dinner for national and Sarawak political activists. – September 30, 2019.