KUCHING, Aug 27: “Only the teapot has changed, but not the tea”, said Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party (Aspirasi) president Lina Soo when describing the new Cabinet announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today.
She said the new arrangement, in which the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) post was not held by any Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) MPs, was not a surprise to her.
Despite GPS’ wish for a DPM post, she said it would be useless if elected MPs do not see to the return of Sarawak’s rights.
“GPS was lobbying for DPM posts, but for what? Sarawak doesn’t need a DPM post to be a ‘flower vase’ in the Cabinet.
“What is the DPM post for if the stolen resources are not returned to Sarawak?” questioned Soo in a statement today.
She held that the people of Sarawak want all oil and gas (O&G) ownership and economic rights to be returned to the State, and for Sarawak’s continental shelf to be restored to 12 nautical miles and 350 miles of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Adding on, she said all of Sarawak’s political and economic rights in compliance with the Malaysian Agreement 1963 (MA63) must be reinstated as well.
“Stop lobbying for the DPM post and federal positions that never benefitted Sarawak in 58 years, and start listening to Sarawak rakyat (people),” said Soo.
In a live telecast at 11am today, the new Cabinet was announced by Ismail Sabri. Apart from Sabtubong MP Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, the rest of the GPS MPs retained their original posts.
Wan Junaidi was appointed as Minister in Prime Minister’s Departments in charging of Parliament and Law, contrary to the former Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative office he held during former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration.
Other three Sarawakian MPs, Putra Jaya MP Datuk Seri Abdullah Fadillah has been remained as Works Minister; Kapit MP Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister while Datuk Sri Nancy Shukri, the Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister.
Five other Sarawakian MPs who were appointed as deputy ministers continue to maintain the old posts.
Mukah MP Datuk Hanifah Taib continues to be appointed as Deputy Minister in Prime Minister’s Department in charging of Sabah and Sarawak Affairs while Lawas MP Dato Henry maintains his position as Transport Deputy Minister.
Saratok MP Datuk Ali Biju continues to be the deputy minister in Energy and Natural Resources Ministry, Kanowit MP Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang, the Deputy Health Minister and Limbang MP Datuk Hasbi Habibollah retains his position as Rural Development Deputy Minister. — DayakDaily
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