KUCHING, Sept 15: The plundering of Sarawak’s oil and gas resources, and the violation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) by the Federal government must end.
Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang in a statement in conjunction with the Malaysia Day said that there would have been no Malaysia without Sarawak and Sabah, and therefore reminded Sarawakians to remember the significance of the day.
“Malaysia Day is important to Sarawakians because the history of Sarawak must be disseminated to all Sarawakians especially to our new generations, and to the generations in Malaya as well so that they too understand the obligations and the spirit of The MA63 and the hope and aspirations of the Sarawak people,” he said.
Lo cited Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s 14th General Election speech where the latter had said without “Sabah and Sarawak, there is no Malaysia”.
However after siphoning RM250 million of Sarawak’s oil and gas daily for 56 years, Lo said Lim turned around to say he could not afford to pay Sarawak more than 5 per cent oil royalty for now.
“When will he and his Pakatan Harapan (PH) government ever fulfill their promise to return 20 per cent oil royalty and 50 per cent of all taxes collected?
“It is only 20 per cent. RM250 million daily amounts to 40 per cent of total oil revenue for the whole of Malaysia.
“Just take a look at Brunei’s first class infrastructure and Sarawak’s answer is all there. This is how important Malaysia Day, September 16, 1963 and the MA63 is to every generation of Sarawakians as well as Malaysians in general.
“The plundering of Sarawak’s oil and gas resources and the violations of MA63 by Malaya must end,” said Lo.
He also reminded Sarawakians that August 32, 1957 was the day Malaya gained independence, and Sarawak only gained its independence on July 22, 1963. Sarawak only joined Malaya to form the Federation of Malaysia, together with Sabah and Singapore on Sept 16, 1963 after signing the MA63. — DayakDaily
