KUCHING: Sarawak government will not entertain any idea or referendum to call for secession from the Federation of Malaysia, said Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem.
Although he agreed the sentiment of Sarawak for Sarawakians, never to the extend to leave Malaysia.
"We were Malaysian once, we are Malaysian now and we will be Malaysian forever.
Hence, let me repeat that we will not approve such request or course of action," he stressed.
Adenan was delivering his opening speech at a special event to commemorate Sarawak’s independence from the British colonial at State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex here.
"We can't deny the fact that the state has gone through development progress which benefited from forming Malaysia. It may not be enough yet but we are trying to improve as a nation," he said.
Adenan also said the state government would consider declaring July 22 as a public holiday for Sarawak.
"We need some time to consider about it first as it should be public holiday to commemorate Sarawak, once an independent nation in 1963, not a reason to be lazy (to have such holiday)," he said.