KUCHING, June 15: Batang Sadong MP Dato Sri Nancy Shukri believes federal funding for rural development in Sarawak will continue unabated as the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government is friendly to the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led government.
She opined that GPS’ 19 Members of Parliament (MPs) would generally be PH-friendly, but they would speak up should there be any PH policies that are detrimental to the state.
“I still have to think very carefully because we are now very friendly with them (PH). We cannot be provocative to a friendly group.
“But we still have our MA63 (Malaysia Agreement 1963) to consider, and we still have to talk about rural development and education in Sarawak,” Nancy told DayakDaily when met at the Chief Minister’s Hari Raya open house at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today.
Nancy stressed that GPS’ lawmakers would become a “friendly opposition” if PH was not proactive in assisting the state.
“So in a way, we are a friendly opposition and will do what is best for the state. We cannot agree with everything because some of them (PH cabinet members) are not familiar with rural development in Sarawak.
“As such, it is for us to assist the PH government by voicing it out … where they might see us as opposing in a constructive manner.
“So, it should be a partnership kind of arrangement,” she said.
On the sitting arrangement in Parliament, Nancy, who is formerly Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, believed GPS and Sabah Warisan MPs would be put in a certain block for being PH-friendly MPs.
On the GPS government, Nancy said the state government must work out a formula with the federal government to ensure it remained in power come the next state election, which must be called by 2021.
“We have to act fast as we don’t have much time before the next state election. Our messages must be right for the local parties (in GPS to win the state election).” — DayakDaily
