Main Menu

Nicholas Wung urges Dapsy Sarawak not to rush to claim credit

SUPP Kuching Branch Acting Secretary and Youth Chairman Nicholas Wung Duk Ying has criticised Dapsy Sarawak for allegedly rushing to claim credit over the return of Bintulu Port to Sarawak.

He said the takeover was the result of years of persistence, negotiations and commitment by the Sarawak government, backed by the people’s long-standing aspiration to restore Sarawak’s rights.

“Bintulu Port did not return to Sarawak because of a political statement. It involved negotiations, institutional arrangements, asset valuation, transfer of operational rights and a RM1.8 billion financial commitment by the Sarawak government.

“The money came from Sarawak, and the port is now being taken over by Sarawak. Yet DAP is quick to claim credit. Sarawakians can see through this,” he said in a statement.

Wung said Dapsy Sarawak should not downplay the role of the Sarawak government and the Premier’s team in the process.

He also reminded DAP that its leader Lim Guan Eng had once claimed that Sarawak would go bankrupt within three years if it continued to be governed by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

“Today, Sarawak has proven otherwise. Not only has Sarawak remained financially strong, it is able to pay RM1.8 billion to take over a strategic asset such as Bintulu Port.

“If DAP now wants to talk about fulfilling promises, it should first explain whether its previous claim about Sarawak going bankrupt was wrong,” he said.

Wung said even Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had acknowledged Sarawak’s financial strength and praised the leadership of the Sarawak government.

He said Anwar had publicly remarked that he had never received a cheque from a state government before, in reference to Sarawak’s ability to make such a payment to the federal government.

“If even the Prime Minister recognises Sarawak’s achievement and the Premier’s team, why is Dapsy Sarawak still trying to belittle Sarawak’s role?

“Does Dapsy Sarawak disagree with the Prime Minister’s acknowledgement, or is it choosing to ignore it for political convenience?” he asked.

Wung also criticised Dapsy Sarawak over a promotional graphic related to the issue, where the image of the Sarawak Premier was allegedly covered while political figures from its own camp were highlighted.

He said although the graphic was later amended after public backlash, Dapsy Sarawak had yet to issue an apology.

“This shows an arrogant and disrespectful attitude. Covering the Premier’s image does not cover up the fact that the Sarawak government has worked hard to reclaim Sarawak’s rights,” he said.

Wung said the federal government’s cooperation in the return of Bintulu Port should be acknowledged, but it should not be used by DAP as an excuse to portray itself as the main driver of the achievement.

He said the struggle for Sarawak’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) was not a seasonal slogan, but a consistent stand taken by GPS regardless of which coalition formed the federal government.

“Sarawak is strong today because of political stability, fiscal discipline, policy continuity and the support of its people.

“The return of Bintulu Port is the result of Sarawak’s long struggle and the Sarawak government’s actual commitment. It is not a credit that Dapsy Sarawak can claim through a poster or a press statement,” he said.

Wung added that if Dapsy Sarawak was sincere, it should apologise to Sarawakians over the inappropriate graphic instead of deflecting the issue with political rhetoric.






Comments are Closed