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By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 28: Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been criticised for disregarding concerns raised by Sarawak activist Peter John Jaban and others like him, over Palestinian refugees’ issue.
Andrew Ambrose Atama Katama, permanent representative to the United Nations for Dayak International Organisation, expressed his discontent towards Anwar, who during a function in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 25, stated that there is a person who told him not to bring Palestinians to Sarawak and thus, describing the remark as “rude and demonstrated a lack of understanding of basic humanity”.
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While Anwar did not name the person, Andrew believed that the prime minister was referring to Peter John who had criticised Anwar’s decision to admit 127 Palestinian refugees for medical treatment in Malaysia.
Andrew described Peter John as a respected non-governmental organisation (NGO) leader from Sarawak, known for his role in advocating for the rights and awareness of the Indigenous people of Borneo.
“It is therefore disheartening to witness a narrative that seems to paint legitimate regional concerns as lacking in basic human compassion.
“Such a characterization risks diminishing the valuable contributions of those who have steadfastly supported the unity and progress of our nation.
“We must be cautious in how we address these concerns, as words have a way of echoing far beyond their initial utterance, sometimes with unintended consequences,” he said in a statement today.
Andrew also urged Anwar to recognise the significance of the concerns raised by Peter John and others like him.
“These are not mere ‘small voices’ to be disregarded, but the resonant tones of a people who have always been, and will continue to be, integral to the heart of Borneo and the soul of Malaysia,” he added. — DayakDaily
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