Fly our ‘Ibu Pertiwi’, not old crown flag says mayor

KUCHING: Sarawakians are reminded to fly or display the current Sarawak flag, the ‘Ibu Pertiwi’, especially during Sarawak Day which falls on July 22.

In making this call, Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng said the flying of the present Sarawak flag symbolises the identity of Sarawak.

“I support what our state Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has previously said (about flying the Sarawak crown flag).

“We must remember that the flag we use for Sarawak today is this, the Ibu Pertiwi flag,” he said.

He said this to reporters during the Sarawak flag distribution programme organised by Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Kuching Youth branch and Team Dynamic Kuching at Jalan Padungan here on Saturday (July 20).

Wee said it also was important to use the present Sarawak flag to avoid causing confusion among the public as well as tourists.

“When tourists come here and they see two different flags, who will explain it to them? So, I think these are the things we have to be seriously looking into.

“Just as an example, when we have a new King, we take down the former King’s picture and put up the current out.

“Similarly, the present flag of Sarawak should be the one we use,” he said.

He added that areas like Padungan and India Street prominently display the current Sarawak flag.

“Also, what is important is that we must focus on more significant issues rather than petty things that could hinder progress.

“To move forward, we must have a bigger picture and a bigger vision for Sarawak.

“If we keep getting caught up in minor issues… I will only refer to those people as too free, and have nothing else to do,” he said.

With the year 2030 approaching, Wee said there is a need to accelerate progress in the state.

“So, if we don’t speed up now, how are we going to achieve our goals? Arguing over small things like which flag to use will only make us a laughing stock.

“Therefore, we need to unite and focus on achieving our objectives,” he said.

Earlier, on July 18, Abdul Karim said that the flying of the Sarawak colonial flag in Sibu for the Sarawak Day celebration was an act of ignorance about the state’s history.