KUCHING, Sept 11: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) information chief Datuk Idris Buang has reminded Star Reform Party (Star) president Lina Soo to not simply shoot her bullets in blaming who should be responsible with the current haze situation.
Responding to Soo’s comment for calling Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas as “too soft” in handling the haze situation in Sarawak, Idris believed Soo was being arrogantly blind on the primary responsibility and how things should work, in regards to handling the haze situation.
“It must be understood that the federal government, particularly the Ministry of Environment, is primarily the responsible party that should take the lead in tackling the misty affair.
“First of all, it is the very fact that the haze is being driven by the winds from the Indonesian side, it is therefore a cross-border problem that is only incumbent upon the federal Ministry of Environment and Wisma Putra to make effective and efficient bilateral communications in order to find a mutually workable solution.
“Since it is an international matter and an absolute federal domain, the state government virtually has no power to own up the problem even though it wanted to,” Idris said in a statement, today.
He reminded that it has been acknowledged that the state is closely monitoring the situation and had alerted all relevant agencies to render whatever assistance and guidance to Sarawakians, especially school going children at all times, so that they are steered away from whatever imminent danger if the haze worsens.
The Muara Tuang assemblyman opined that the federal side should have followed the standard operating procedures (SOP) in similar or worst haze situation that has been done during Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tunku Jaafar’s time (when he was the then Minister of Environment), in coordinating with the Indonesian authorities including being catalytic to successfully enable the prime minister to positively engage with Indonesia’s president and resulting in fruitful working situation at the time.
He said the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government had shown the way how things work with good cooperation from both sides.
“I had a short conversation with Wan Junaidi and he is completely dismayed to see that there is no positive move made by the present office-bearers. It seems, a good blend of experience, knowledge and wisdom really matters when the situation like this hazy mess calls for those holding the responsibility to act.
“According to Wan Junaidi, it is the federal and not the state who should call the shots. Be it dealing with the Indonesian authorities or to deploy the army or the fire department or any federal bodies to do all that is necessary including making artificial rain,” Idris pointed out.
Describing Soo as overreacting and shooting at the wrong person, Idris said she should not be so unkind giving such unnecessary nasty and disrespectful comment on Uggah, especially when she is a member of a non profit organisation that claims to advocate the rights of Sarawak under Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the Federal Constitution.
Idris added that after all this time, he would have thought that Soo must be fully conversant and aware of the divisions of the constitutional responsibilities, powers and authority between the state and the federal government in a federation. — DayakDaily
