By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Sept 24: Mulu assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala believed Sarawakians will reject DAP and its Pakatan Harapan (PH) partners in the next state election.
He said Sarawakians are politically mature to gauge for themselves as who should govern the state and Pakatan has not been able to fulfil its promises made in the last general election.
“Lim Kit Siang’s claim that DAP, together with its Pakatan partners, will form the Sarawak government after the next state election is another example of their arrogance and underestimation of the political maturity of Sarawakians.
“It is not DAP but Sarawakian’s who will decide the next state government.
“DAP and Pakatan’s style of aggressive, disruptive and manipulative politics does not appeal to the majority of Sarawakians, who value the peace, harmony and mutual understanding that has long existed as the social norm and fabric which held our communities together, and is deeply treasured by everyone,” Gerawat claimed.
He was rebutting Lim’s statement in his Facebook post on Sept 22, that DAP will fight the 12th Sarawak state election for the first time as part of the new Pakatan Sarawak state government and not as an opposition.
“Alleging that Sarawak has a high percentage of poor household and that a change in government will ensure fair distribution of wealth to the people of Sarawak is a motherhood statement.
“This is another example of how easy it is for DAP and Pakatan to make promises that they cannot fulfil or are not serious about implementing,” Gerawat said.
“Just look at their inability and failure to make good their promises on reduction of fuel prices and cost of living, abolishment of PTPTN oan, abolishment of highway tolls, and many others.
“Look at the many U-turns Pakatan government has made just within a year after they formed the government.
“Pakatan has a credibility problem, which they themselves have created and many Sarawakians will find it hard to believe and trust their promises,” continued the State Legislative Assembly deputy speaker.
Gerawat, who is also a member of Sarawak’s MA63 Steering Committee, pointed out that the wisdom of the Dayak paramount chief Tun Jugah Barieng, in his anticipation of the inherent risk for Sarawak in the Federation of Malaysia, was well founded as Sarawakians looked back at its experience since the formation of Malaysia in September 1963.
“Much of our rights as provided in the Federal Constitution and the MA63 has been eroded and disregarded ever since.
“Pakatan’s promise to restore our eroded rights through a constitutional amendment had failed because the amendment did not get the support of our GPS members of Parliament. The reason being that the Pakatan refused to incorporate reference to MA63 in the amendment as requested,” he said.
Gerawat reminded that MA63 is the foundational agreement setting up the Federation of Malaysia, where Sarawak and Sabah are described as independent and sovereign territories like the Federation of Malaya.
According to him, the amendment proposed by Pakatan effectively describe Sarawak and Sabah as States in the Federation of Malaya, and not even States in the Federation of Malaysia.
The continuing reluctance and failure of Pakatan to fulfil their election promise of giving 20 per cent oil royalty and 50 per cent of all taxes collected in Sarawak is another reminder to Sarawakians, that they should not allow themselves to be deceived by Pakatan promises, he continued. — DayakDaily
