KUCHING, April 29 — Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem offered today his administration’s guarantee to protect the state’s rights in the Federal Constitution, as agreed upon in the 1963 Malaysia Agreement.

The state leader said his government would not agree to any amendments to the Constitution that touches on Sarawak’s executive and legislative powers, the right of its people to religious freedom as well as provisions on the special treatment of the state’s natives.

“The rights of the state government to control the entry and residence in the state by non-Sarawakians remain embedded in Article 161E(4) of the Federal Constitution,” he added in his debate today at the state assembly.

In the same vein, Adenan said the state would not permit the alteration of boundaries in Sarawak without its prior consent.

He added that revenue from Sarawak’s natural resources cannot be taken away without the nod of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri.

On Sarawak’s relationship with the federal government, Adenan said this must be founded on mutual respect, trust and respect for the constitutional rights, duties and powers of both parties.

“It ought to be on a consultative mode and not a confrontational approach, so as to promote national harmony, peace, solidarity and stability.

“In short, this relationship should be on the basis of “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s” — meaning, what constitutionally is the state’s must not be taken away and the state must be accorded and received what is due to the state as decreed by the Constitution,” Adenan stressed.

The chief minister’s remarks today come following calls by state lawmakers and civil society groups here that the Sarawak government ensures the federal government respects the state’s rights as enshrined in the 18-point agreement pursuant to the formation of Malaysia.

There have also been calls by groups like the banned Sarawak Association for People’s Aspirations (SAPA) for a review of the state’s position in the federation.

Adenan also said today that the state’s decision not to allow an Umno chapter in Sarawak as well as its entry ban on alleged extremists from the peninsula will remain in force.

“I have told the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Razak) about Umno not coming to Sarawak and he agreed and said that Sarawak is in the capable hands of Sarawakians,” he said.

He said Sarawak is well known for its religious and racial harmony and that the various ethnic groups have co-existed peacefully and have a great respect for each other’s religion, culture and tradition.