KUCHING, March 9: Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak (Aspirasi) raises the question of whether the creation of the new Sabah and Sarawak Affairs portfolio is just candy to sooth angry Sarawakians.
“I wonder if it is just a lollipop for Sarawakians to calm down the feelings of wrath against GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) for their kingmaker role (in the political impasse from Feb 24 to March 1 which led to the downfall of the Pakatan Harapan government).
“Many Sabah-Sarawak issues remain unresolved — MA63 (Malaysia Agreement 1963), oil and gas, and federal legislation which are unconstitutional in the Sabah and Sarawak context and for Sabah, the illegal immigrants issue,” according to Aspirasi president Lina Soo.
She noted that with the looming 12th Sarawak Election which must be held by next year, Sarawakians will be watching whether the creation of the portfolio will bring about any effective change.
“Sarawakians will await the results of the newly created portfolio (to see) if it will fulfil the peoples’ expectations, or if the performance of the ministry has nothing to show.
“GPS can expect Sarawakians to give their verdict without mercy. I certainly will.”
Soo also warned the federal government about creating the ministry so that there is a scapegoat which can take the blame when nothing is done.
“I hope this ministry will not just become a convenient scapegoat as the federal government can blame this department and the people of Sarawak and Sabah for everything that goes wrong in Sabah and Sarawak.
“‘We gave you the ministry, if your ministers can’t deliver, that is your own problem, blame your ministers for failing their duty,’ — this is what the federal (side) can say to us,” Soo claimed.
The new government under Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has seen the creation of new portfolios such as Sarawak and Sabah Affairs and National Unity. — DayakDaily
