KUCHING, Nov 17: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) information chief Datuk Idris Buang believes that the disappointment felt by voters in Tanjung Piai is similar to what Sarawakians are experiencing.
In response to Pakatan Harapan (PH)’s loss in the Tanjung Piai by-election, Idris said the ruling coalition’s failure to live up to the expectation of its supporters is now clearly felt.
“DAP’s (Democratic Action Party) failure to live up to the expectation of its supporters and those who voted them in along with its other Pakatan Harapan partners is now clearly felt when many of its promises in its so-called ‘Real Deal for Sarawak’ could never be fulfilled by them,” according to Idris in a statement today.
He questioned again PH’s commitment towards some of its promises for Sarawak such as raising oil and gas royalty to 20 per cent and returning 50 per cent of income tax collected in Sarawak.
The Muara Tuang lawmaker also questioned PH on its role in making Petronas pay for the five per cent sales tax imposed by Sarawak on petroleum products.
“What have they done to make sure Petronas pays our 5 per cent sales tax on exports of our petroleum products from which Sarawak stands to get approximately between RM3 to RM4 billion a year ?
“Did they do anything in the Pakatan Cabinet or other appropriate forums to ensure that the federal government instructs Petronas to pay the mandatory sales tax to Sarawak, in compliance with the established law?
“Or do they just prefer to play dumb and yet cheekily offer a motion to be tabled at DUN (Legislative Assembly) Sarawak stating they (DAP/PH) are backing Sarawak GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) government to sue Petronas, seemingly as a strategy for a political face-saver or cover, (to prevent them) from being accused of betraying Sarawak’s interests?
“There are many on the list of rakyat’s disappointment with DAP/PH as the federal government,” according to Idris.
He also listed some of the problems PH created for themselves — the cancelling of approved projects giving the excuse of lack of funds contradicted by the approval of funds and projects for Penang, Kedah and Sabah, the dilapidated school issue, the rocketing cost of living and prices of goods, and the failure to keep petrol price below RM1.50 per litre.
Idris noted that promises were made by PH to the people, and thus, they are answerable to the rakyat.
He added, PH had also failed to keep the promise of allocating 30 per cent of total federal budget to Sarawak and Sabah. In Budget 2020, Sarawak only received below eight per cent of the total budget, which Idris described as a “mistreatment” in view that Sarawak contributes RM200 to RM250 million per day to national coffers through its oil and gas production.
“PH promised 30 per cent for Sabah and Sarawak. But you all can see, how far (Finance Minister) Lim Guan Eng has failed to keep their promises, knowing that Sarawak has 127,000 sq km of land and it is the biggest producer of oil and gas products contributing RM200 to RM250 million per day in terms of value.”
However, he added, despite the ill treatment, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has risen to the occasion by providing solutions and funds to continue the cancelled infrastructure projects, repair schools, provide water and electricity, and conduct perimeter surveys of native customary rights (NCR) land.
“This is what we call a responsible government with the right positive attitude which the rakyat want.
“PH as a federal government seems to be badly lacking in such positive attitude and in fact they seem to be ‘punishing’ Sarawak through many actions and pronouncements, including the setting up of Federal Village Community Management Councils (MPKKPs).
“Have they forgotten their responsibilities towards Sarawak in federalism and under the Federal Constitution as well as the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (including the Intergovernmental Committee Report), irrespective of who takes the rein of the Sarawak government?” Idris asked. — DayakDaily
