By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 14: Sarawak and Sabah could have been richer than Dubai had both retained control over their oil and gas (O&G) and tax revenue instead of it being appropriated by the federal government, says Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan.
In a statement, Voon claimed that as Sarawak and Sabah have been ‘colonised’, they have long had their O&G resources appropriated by the federal government.
“Every year, tens of billions of ringgit in petroleum revenue from Sabah and Sarawak flow to the federal government, while the amount returned annually is rarely more than ten billion ringgit.
“Federal control over taxation and development funds leaves both States underdeveloped, while Malaya grows wealthy from its natural resources,” he said.
His statement stemmed from criticism over the constitutional amendment that inserted the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) into the Federal Constitution in 2021, and was unanimously supported by all parties, including Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Gabungan Rakyat Sarawak (GRS), Pakatan Harapan, and Peninsular-based coalitions.
“Their collective support reflects a political consensus that, unfortunately, does not address the long-standing grievances and historical injustices faced by Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.
He further contended that the insertion of the MA63 into the constitution binds Sarawak and Sabah to the federation under terms determined by Malaysia.
Voon also argued that Sabah and Sarawak were handed over to Malaya by the British without full compliance with international legal standards, adding that Sarawakians and Sabahans were not consulted.
Therefore, he called on the people of Sarawak and Sabah to understand their historical and legal rights, recognise the ‘injustices’ that have occurred, and look forward towards a future built on justice and equality.
“Many legal experts have also argued that MA63 is invalid under international law and that the formation of Malaysia was the result of ‘manufactured consent’.
“If the agreement at the core of Malaysia is invalid, then the legitimacy of the Malaysian Federation itself is open to serious question,” he said. — DayakDaily
