By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 27: Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan has called on the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government to demand a 40 per cent federal revenue entitlement for Sarawak, comparable to the arrangement recently affirmed for Sabah, warning that failure to do so would constitute a political dereliction of duty.
Voon said the recent recognition of Sabah’s constitutional right to 40 per cent of federal revenue has highlighted a stark disparity between the treatment of the two Borneo states.
“While Sabah has successfully asserted its entitlement, Sarawak continues to receive far less despite its immense contribution to Malaysia’s economy, particularly through oil and gas,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (Nov 26).
He questioned why Sarawakians have yet to see a strong fiscal arrangement from the State government.
“Sarawak was a founding partner in the formation of Malaysia. It is unacceptable that more than 60 years later, we remain without a revenue-sharing mechanism that reflects the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), the legitimate expectations of Sarawakians, and the principles of equity between the federation’s components,” he said.
Voon urged GPS to openly demand that the federal government extend the 40 per cent revenue entitlement to Sarawak, table a clear, time-bound negotiation plan, and assert Sarawak’s constitutional rights and financial autonomy.
He warned that any delay or failure in securing a fair fiscal arrangement would amount to political incompetence.
“Sarawakians are no longer willing to accept excuses. If Sabah can assert its rights under the Federal Constitution, Sarawak must demand no less. Anything short of that is a failure of leadership,” he said.
Voon added that the future, development, and dignity of Sarawak depend on a government willing to negotiate decisively and ensure that the State’s resources benefit its people.
“If GPS cannot or will not do this, then Sarawakians must reconsider whether GPS is capable of carrying the mandate of the people. The time for a stronger, fairer deal for Sarawak is now. Sarawakians deserve nothing less,” he stressed. — DayakDaily
