By Doreen Ling
KUCHING, March 21: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof questioned Sarawak Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth’s (DAPSY) sincerity on the proposal of a bipartisan committee on the State’s oil and gas rights.
“I don’t understand the intention of it (formation of the bipartisan committee), whether there is a political agenda behind it or if they (DAP) are sincere.
“The fight (for O&G rights) is under GPS; that is clear; we’ve always been consistent (in our efforts). But for DAP, I’m not sure about their sincerity and commitment,” he said to reporters while attending an iftar event at Masjid Darul Sabirin in Kampung Empila, Kota Samarahan, today.
He said this when asked for his comments on Sarawak DAPSY’s proposal to form a bipartisan committee comprising representatives from DAP and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) on Sarawak’s oil and gas resources.
Fadillah further questioned the necessity of forming another committee, suggesting that the proposal might be politically motivated.
“It (formation of the bipartisan committee) seems to imply a lack of confidence in the existing committees — the Technical Committee of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 Implementation Action Council (JKTMTPM63) and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63) — both established by Prime Minister Dato Sri Anwar Ibrahim.
“The committee formed by Dato Sri Anwar is already sufficient. Nine claims have been resolved so far under the Madani Government alone,” he added.
Furthermore, Fadillah said that DAP has always been criticising GPS, even though GPS has long been fighting for Sarawak’s rights, which caused him to question their sincerity.
However, he said that if Sarawak DAP members were adamant about securing Sarawak’s oil and gas rights, they should voice their support for it in Parliament.
“Support it in Parliament, make your voices strong,” he said.
On March 19, Sarawak DAPSY political education director Jordan Soo Tien Ren said that the proposed committee would adopt a non-partisan approach focused on Sarawak’s interests rather than political affiliations by facilitating regular dialogues between DAP and PBB leaders while also securing a reliable ally at the federal level. — DayakDaily
