KUCHING, April 11: There are six laws passed during former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s administration which constitutes direct encroachment of Sarawak’s rights that should have been repealed by DAP when it was part of the federal administration.
Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan asserted Democratic Action Party (DAP) under Pakatan Harapan (PH) had only “warmed their seats” for 22 months without revoking these laws to restore Sarawakians’ rights.
These laws, he said, include the Goods and Services Tax Act 2014, Tourism Tax Act 2017, Territorial Sea Act 2012, National Security Council Act 2015, Access to Biological Resources and Benefit Sharing Act 2017 and the Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act 2017.
He added that the Petroleum Development Act 1974 which is stripping Sarawak of about RM285 million a day was also not repealed by DAP, a figure not inclusive of Sarawak’s marine wealth and gas.
“We know the PH government of which DAP was a member of the government could not alone, restore the rightful status of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners to the States of Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia) in the Federation of Malaysia, but, at least these Acts detrimental to Sarawak and Sabah should be repealed.
“The culture of blaming what was wrong or done wrong concerning to the status of Sarawak being downgraded by Parliament in 1976 to a state equivalent to any state in Malaya should not be welcome without any solution to it,” Voon said in a statement today.
Even if amending the Federal Constitution could not be done immediately, DAP could have proposed the amendment in Parliament to restore the status of Sarawak to its original state, he opined.
He thus questioned DAP’s claims to be mindful of the restoration of Sarawak’s status and rights to its original pre-Malaysia position as a free and independent nation with full sovereignty.
“Please do not forget the election promises of DAP during GE14 (14th General Election) to give 20 per cent oil and gas royalties and 50 per cent of all taxes collected in the state, full autonomy in education and healthcare back to Sarawak. Where are they now?” questioned Voon. — DayakDaily
