By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Sept 16: Putrajaya should show its sincerity of honouring Sarawak as an equal partner by staying out of Sarawak’s affairs especially in the appointment of community leaders.
This view was asserted by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) secretary-general Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi who expressed disappointment over the announcement made by Deputy Rural Development Minister Sivarasa Rasiah that the federal government will appoint their own tuai rumah or community Leaders in the state.
“I am very disappointed with the minister for making such an announcement and his intention to create their own system of appointing community leaders in Sarawak.
“I believed he should leave the appointment to Sarawak as the system that we have here is one that has been practiced for decades and has worked well for us.
“On the other hand, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government should prove that it is sincere to give us back our equal status, by first respecting our rights in appointing community leaders.
“It (PH) should show its sincerity, first and foremost, with a non-interference policy on Sarawak’s affairs and at the same time, they should respect MA63 as they have claimed and promised,” Nanta told DayakDaily today.
Sivarasa said the federal government will appoint their own tuai rumah or community Leaders in the state. The idea was mooted after the federal cabinet decided to revamp and rebrand the Village Development and Safety Committee (JKKK) to Village Community Management Council (MPKK) in June last year.
At Sarawak Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Branch Annual General Meeting (AGM) opening dinner last night (Sept 15), Sivarasa had said that the mechanics of the appointment of Tuai Rumah and community leaders in Sarawak will be worked out by the ministry, and is expected to be revealed some time in January next year.
Nanta, who is Kapit MP and former Deputy Minister for Rural and Regional Development said, Sivarasa’s statement showed that the federal government has no genuine intention to respect Sarawak’s autonomy and rights.
“Rather than interfering into Sarawak’s affairs, it would be better for Putrajaya to focus on giving rural development projects to the rural areas of Sarawak.
“Water and electricity are still lacking in the rural areas and the provision of these amenities are the responsibility of Putrajaya which they have not been dutifully implemented.”
“When it comes to rural development, they have bags of excuses for not doing anything. Instead of interfering into Sarawak’s affairs, it would be more helpful for Sivarasa to focus on assisting Sarawak with rural development projects,” said Nanta. — DayakDaily
