Tiang: doubts PH pledges on devolution of powers can be denied by Chong alone

suppadmin | May 19, 2018

SUPP Central Youth Chairman Tiang doubts that the Pakatan Harapan’s pledges to Sarawak on devolution of powers can be denied by PH State Chief Chong Chieng Jen alone.

To get back Sarawak rights from the Federal according to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 is every Sarawakian’s dream. This was the very strong wish of the Sarawak people that gave the mandate to Team Adenan to become the Sarawak Government to pursue this agenda.

During the last General Election, Pakatan Harapan also offered Sarawakians in their Manifesto – “Buku Harapan” that if they manage to become the government of the day, they would review the MA63, including increasing the oil royalty to 20% and to give 50% tax collected from Sarawak back to Sarawak. These are clearly the promises set in stone by the PH to Sarawak people.

However recently the State PH chief Chong Chieng Jen through a few press conferences repeatedly declared that the above “deals” including the devolution of powers to Sarawak are now no longer valid on the ground that the Sarawak Government failed to sign the so-called New Deal Agreement with the PH before the polling day.

Tiang reminded Chong that he as a Sarawakian Member of Parliament is duty bound to find ways through powers in Putrajaya to fulfill PH’s pledges for Sarawak, not attaching conditions onto the pledges they made during the GE14.

Tiang therefore questioned Chong where his loyalty lies as a Sarawakian. Chong’s recent denial of devolution of powers to Sarawak tantamount to his betrayal to Sarawak.

Even if the Sarawak Government may not agree to the modus operandi offered by the PH on the devolution of powers, there is nothing to stop Chong and his team of Sarawakian MPs to seek the best solutions and models to get back Sarawak rights from the Federal so as to further empower the Sarawak people.

Tiang urged all Sarawak PH MPs that it is time to turn those votes they received from the polls into actions to fulfill their pledges to Sarawak people.