STATE rights group Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) today announced it will contest in “all major urban and rural seats” in the forthcoming state election.

The group said its campaign would centre around sending representatives to the state legislative assembly on a promise of securing “100% independence” from Malaysia.

Group spokesman Erick Chin said the decision to field candidates came “after all negotiations and observations regarding the referendum had failed”.

Chin, however, did not elaborate on what the negotiations were and with whom, but made clear that the group’s stand differed from the Sarawak-based parties in the Pakatan Harapan federal coalition and Sarawak parties in the state-based Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

It said PH, PAS and Barisan Nasional would do nothing but suck the state’s oil and gas resources dry and dismantle its immigration autonomy, while GPS, despite pressing for the return of state autonomy, had fallen short.

S4S said it would push for “100% independence” to give the state complete control over its natural resources.

“Sarawakians feel that Pakatan Harapan and GPS have let them down with continued corruption and unfulfilled promises.

“We believe Sarawakians are hoping for a third force to step in the Sarawak political landscape.”

As S4S is not registered with the Registrar of Societies, Chin said it would likely field its candidates as independents or work with other rights groups with similar aims, like the Star or Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK).

He said the group’s top priority would be to table the referendum bill by their elected representatives.

“Our candidates will put focus on the referendum ordinance and independence. We don’t want to share our revenue with Malaya anymore.”

Chin said the names of its candidates and seats they will contest “will be revealed soon”.

The mandate of the current state GPS government ends in June next year. – February 14, 2020.