KUCHING, Aug 7 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi tonight warned “disruptive elements” against any attempt to sour Sarawak’s ties with Peninsular Malaysia, saying the home ministry will take action against them.

Zahid, who is home minister, did not expressly identify these “disruptive elements” but it is believed he was referring to groups calling for Sarawak’s secession from Malaysia.

“So do not try to create misunderstanding between Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia. Do not try to go overboard, “ he said.

“I will bring the might of the home ministry down on these groups,” he said at Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri organised by the state RELA at the indoor stadium here tonight.

On July 22, about 10,000 attended the Sarawak For Sarawak (S4S) Freedom and Independence Day Walk at Song Kheng Hai field here, demanding that the state government declare July 22 as Sarawak’s Independence day.

The participants of the walk, which was organised by the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association and S4S movement, also called for greater autonomy for Sarawak.

The police have already interviewed 12 members of the organising committee for defying the order by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar to cancel the walk.

Tonight, Zahid also accepted Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s call for him to visit Sarawak’s rural interiors more often.

“I will visit rural Sarawak if that is what the people of Sarawak want and I will request for a special allocation from the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, especially for rural Sarawak,” he said.

He said his visit to Sarawak today, his first trip to the state as deputy prime minister, was to express his gratitude to Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) for its continuous support to Najib.

He said Najib and Adenan have a close relationship.