By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 18: The presence of Malayan political parties in Sarawak has not only taken away seats allocated for Sarawak and Sabah but also eroded the Sarawak government’s bargaining power with the federal government, claimed Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan.
He said the influence of these parties has created widespread distrust toward the federal government, making it harder for Sarawak to assert its rights and negotiate better deals.
“If political parties from Malaya truly care for Sarawak, they should repeal the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA74) and return all oil and gas resources back to Sarawak and Sabah,” he said in a statement today.
He also criticised members of Parliament (MPs) from Malayan parties, alleging that they have failed to push Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on key issues, including securing sufficient funds for repairing dilapidated schools and improving rural infrastructure.
“They have also failed Sarawak miserably. The Sarawak government has been made to beg all the time for a better deal from the federal government, and this should not be the case if Malaya truly cares about Sarawak,” he said.
Voon further alleged Malayan parties of sowing division among Sarawakians, claiming their presence has fuelled growing anti-Malaya and anti-Malaysia sentiments.
“There are increasing numbers of our people, who do not trust Sarawakian politicians representing political parties from Malaya,” he said.
He emphasised that Sarawak’s forefathers never intended for Malayan political parties to establish a foothold in the State, as this was not stipulated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
He also contended that Sarawak and Sabah have been treated as colonies rather than equal partners in Malaysia, contradicting the original terms of their entry into the federation.
“Politicians and MPs, who represent political parties from Malaya, should see the federal government is controlled by Malaya and Sarawak had never been treated fairly by the federal government or Malaya since Malaysia was created.
“PBK feels cheated because Sarawak and Sabah were supposed to be equal partners in Malaysia, not territories annexed or controlled by Malaya,” he stressed. — DayakDaily
