By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Dec 15: The unanimous decision to pass the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) amendment is testament of Democratic Action Party’s (DAP) commitment to empower Sarawak and Sarawakians.
DAP’s Batu Kawah candidate Dr Kelvin Yii said that he had voted for it, along with other DAP MPs, for the MA63 amendment yesterday, setting aside political differences in the interest of Sarawak and its people.
He said while the Law Minister (Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar) yesterday tried to justify that there are provisions within Article 80 of the Federal Constitution for “Distribution of Executive Powers”, such distributions are purely executive, not legislative where Sarawakians can decide its own policy directions in Sarawak.
“This also is dependent on the Federal government’s discretion whether to give or not, and also have the power to take it back. That is not true autonomy.
“With this, I reiterate my call for the GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) federal ministers and State leaders to commit to and formulate a Power Devolution Blueprint for Sarawak. This plan should outline key milestones within the next five to 10 years along with a periodic review of the progress made,” said Dr Yii in a press conference here today.
He held that the blueprint should also outline the strategies that Sarawak will employ to develop human capital within Sarawak to meet the unique challenges of today and tomorrow.
Towards that end, he said Sarawak can start with devolving the powers for health and education to Sarawak. Necessary steps should also be taken to insert education and healthcare in the concurrent list as a responsibility to be shared among the Federal and State governments of Sarawak and Sabah.
On health, Dr Yii, who is also Stampin MP said the Covid-19 pandemic has shown the importance of an equal Federal-State partnership, especially in health matters, to effectively manage outbreaks and protect the lives of Sarawakians.
Sarawak must build enough capacity – in terms of testing, tracing, isolating and supporting potential patients – to be able to withstand another outbreak.
For education which is the most potent vehicle for upward social mobility, he said on top of educational infrastructure, developing sufficient teaching manpower is essential.
To him, the syllabus being taught in schools and institutes of higher learning must incorporate input from local stakeholders to produce versatile talent geared towards the jobs Sarawak wants to create. Such dynamic investments will bring a positive impact to the employability of youths as well as individuals, especially women, who aim to re-enter the workforce.
Politically, he said with greater autonomy comes the greater need to ensure transparency and accountability.
“With the passing of yesterday’s amendments and demand for more of our rights and rightful allocations to be returned to us, it is even more pertinent for us to have a robust and institutionalised check and balance system including a strong and credible opposition.
“Institutional reforms that were proposed by us such as strengthening the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) and the establishment of a multiparty DUN Select Committee will be essential for stronger checks and balances as well as ensuring government projects and programmes directly benefit the people of Sarawak.”
“These steps are the necessary building blocks to guarantee any eventual State government would commit to a proper implementation of power devolution and not use Sarawak’s autonomy as political campaign fodder during each election,” said Dr Yii. — DayakDaily
