{"id":24359,"date":"2019-05-03T15:00:28","date_gmt":"2019-05-03T07:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/?p=24359"},"modified":"2019-05-03T21:50:50","modified_gmt":"2019-05-03T13:50:50","slug":"batu-kitang-assemblyman-lo-khere-chiang-dun-speech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/?p=24359","title":{"rendered":"Batu Kitang Assemblyman, Lo Khere Chiang DUN speech"},"content":{"rendered":"

Honourable Datuk Amar Speaker,<\/p>\n

Thank you for the honour and opportunity to debate on TYT’s opening\u00a0address at the first meeting of the fourth term of the 18th State\u00a0Legislative Assembly (DUN). I support TYT’s address wherein TYT\u00a0acknowledges our hardworking people, calls for continued peace,\u00a0prosperity and understanding among our people.<\/p>\n

Equal representation in Parliament<\/p>\n

1. I would like to start off by reminding everyone in this August\u00a0House that Sarawak is protected by the 18 points set out in MA63 and\u00a0that we are entitled to equal representation in Parliament as stated\u00a0in MA63.<\/p>\n

We need to be vigilant and learn from Sabah\u2019s predicament. Sabah is\u00a0also protected by MA63 (20 points) but how did Sabah\u2019s rights get so
\neroded? Do not forget the 700,000 ICs granted to foreigners in project\u00a0IC in Sabah.\u00a0Our rights were heavily eroded but Sabahans\u2019 rights were even more\u00a0heavily eroded. This is because Sabahans voted to relinquish much of\u00a0their rights as bill after bill was passed in their DUN. Once the bill\u00a0is passed in the State Legislative Council, there is no turning back.<\/p>\n

With unequal representation in parliament, Federal can chang\u00a0constitution after constitution to suit Malaya\u2019s needs to the\u00a0detriment of Sarawak. However, MA63 has and will always maintain that\u00a0there must be equal representation among the three founding states of\u00a0Malaysia.<\/p>\n

Besides equal representation in parliament, Sarawak will insist on\u00a0keeping her immigration autonomy. We will also continue to maintain\u00a0that PDA74 and TSA2012 are null and void because they were bills\u00a0passed in parliament without the consent of the Sarawak State\u00a0Legislative Assembly.<\/p>\n

Insincerity of PH Government<\/p>\n

The Pakatan Harapan\u2019s empty promises and their lack of sincerity have\u00a0driven the whole country, especially Sarawak backwards; except for a\u00a0few select states like Penang, Kedah and lately Sabah which have had a\u00a0windfall of funds for some reason.\u00a0It is not enough that Sarawak contributes a major bulk to the federal\u00a0government\u2019s coffers every year: 30% of Malaysia\u2019s oil revenue and 60%\u00a0of Malaysia’s gas revenue come from Sarawak. We still get next to\u00a0nothing back. To add insult to injury, our grants have either been\u00a0suspended or slashed after PH government took over.<\/p>\n

Take a look at my constituency\u2019s long awaited funds for our Haji Baki\u00a0Hawker centre worth a mere RM 800,000 and our Dewan Haji Baki worth\u00a0RM1million that was cut. The same goes to the RM250million flood\u00a0mitigation projects mentioned by MP for Santubong that was slashed in\u00a0early 2018 and the RM20 million allocation for my SK Haji Baki in my\u00a0Batu Kitang constituency.<\/p>\n

After Sarawak\u2019s calls for equal status as a founding state, the PM has\u00a0repeatedly said in parliament that everyone should have the same
\nstatus and share its revenue together. \u201cIn other words, Sarawak\u2019s\u00a0resources should be shared with Malaya,\u201d he said. Even Kedah\u2019s Menteri\u00a0Besar reiterated that Sarawak should share her resources equally,\u00a0including with Kedah. This is Kedah, the PM\u2019s hometown which already\u00a0has 2 existing airports and was only recently awarded a third airport,\u00a0Kulim Airport and major projects worth Rm$4.8 billion.<\/p>\n

What is the PM\u2019s meaning of equal status and sharing of resources when\u00a0the construction of the Igan, Rambungan and Batang Lupar bridges are\u00a0stopped in Sarawak but 28 new bridges have been pledged in Sabah by\u00a0the Works Minister, MP for Selangau, himself a Sarawakian, a day after\u00a0Sabah\u2019s MPs agree to support the infamous Article 1(2) bill amendment?<\/p>\n

I would like to ask member for Ba’kelalan who is also MP for Selangau:<\/p>\n

Have you forgotten your beloved Sarawak?\u00a0“Kera Di hutan Di susukan tetapi Anak dipangkuan mati kelaparan”.\u00a0Our Sarawak CM is right to be angry with Putrajaya\u2019s decisions. Are\u00a0Sarawakians not important to Malaya? Why are both member for Kota\u00a0Sentosa\u00a0 and member for Ba’kelalan keeping quiet about the cut funds\u00a0for the federal allocation for these three major bridges in Sarawa<\/p>\n

Unkept promises<\/p>\n

Promises made were not kept and the people are fed up because they\u00a0have been made to look like proper fools for believing PH would\u00a0deliver.\u00a0 I also want to ask member for Kota Sentosa: \u201cSo where is the\u00a050% tax refund, the 20% oil royalty and the return of autonomy on\u00a0health and education that member for Kota Sentosa was shouting about\u00a0from the rafters in this very DUN before GE14? Ask yourself, how many\u00a0U-turns of election promises has PH made since the PH government took\u00a0over? What are the PH members of this house doing about this?\u201d<\/p>\n

10% sales tax on petroleum exports<\/p>\n

Our honorable Chief Minister, let us raise the sales tax on petroleum\u00a0exports to 10 % instead of the current 5%! After all, Malaya is saying\u00a0there is no money for us for our dilapidated schools, no money for our\u00a0roads and bridges and no money for the projects needed to improve the\u00a0lives of our rural folks. Putrajaya has money to help Africa with\u00a0clean water projects but has no money for our rural schools and\u00a0villagers in Sarawak who are still waiting to receive treated water\u00a0supply.<\/p>\n

Putrajaya has no money for Sarawak but has money to make a USD 900\u00a0million deal with Pakistan during the PM\u2019s recent visit to the\u00a0country. Here, we are investing in a foreign country when we are so\u00a0short of money ourselves.<\/p>\n

Third National Car<\/p>\n

The Finance Minister claimed that our country has debts that will\u00a0affect generations to come. So when it comes to helping Sarawak, they\u00a0came up with thousands of excuses, mostly laying the blame on the\u00a0previous government. Yet, he has money to start a third National car\u00a0project to satisfy one man\u2019s ego but there is no funds to help Sarawak\u00a0build a hawker center, a Dewan and a school in my Haji Baki
\nconstituency.<\/p>\n

The PM\u2019s\u00a0 statement on the government\u2019s decision to have a third\u00a0national car project was to enable Malaysians to learn and understand
\nautomotive engineering technology.\u00a0We do not need to turn the whole country to be knowledgeable on\u00a0engineering matters.\u00a0 People are having difficulty putting food on the\u00a0table; they do not have time to worry about how good a car can run on\u00a0the road. They do not have the energy to bother.<\/p>\n

Economy Down<\/p>\n

We should not lie to ourselves anymore. ADUN for Kota Sentosa, who is\u00a0also a Deputy Minister is trying to paint a rosy picture of the
\neconomy but we are in a bad shape.\u00a0Look around to see us Sarawakians suffering. After GE 14, things have\u00a0been taking a turn for the worst. We are experiencing the effects of\u00a0deflation. The prices of raw materials are still going up even as the\u00a0Ringgit weakens. The Ringgit fell due to uncertainty of the new PH\u00a0government.Many are finding life difficult with escalating prices that\u00a0have been plaguing this country since PH took over.<\/p>\n

A Visionary Chief Minister<\/p>\n

We will always remember our late Tok Nan for bringing MA63 up for\u00a0Sarawak. Najib promised to return our rights under MA63.Then GE14
\nhappened.\u00a0Fortunately, we have a far-sighted, visionary and courageous CM, Abang\u00a0Jo to carry on Tok Nan\u2019s fight for Sarawak.\u00a0Our CM has improved the economy of Sarawak on an impressive scale with\u00a0the establishment of Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS), Sarawak\u00a0Development Bank (DBOS) and he has put Sarawak on par with the rest of\u00a0the digital world of economy with generous state funded allocations of\u00a0RM1 billion to improve\u00a0 ICT infrastructure. The resultant effect of\u00a0all these has seen the successful set\u00a0 up of Sarawak Multimedia\u00a0Institute (SMA) and Sarawak Pay within a short few months.<\/p>\n

Our CM has also embarked on Rural Transformation projects for more\u00a0roads, treated water and street lights with power grid and internet
\nconnection.\u00a0For Chinese independent schools, it was also our CM Abang Jo who came\u00a0to the rescue with the provision of funding to assist with the\u00a0annually increasing running costs. Our CM Abang Jo has also followed\u00a0up on Adenan’s pledge to award a 2,000 hectare piece of land for\u00a0Chinese education to be sustainable.<\/p>\n

Our Chief Minister is definitely on the right track and we should give\u00a0him 110% support on this. No Sarawak state leaders other than Tok Nan\u00a0has fought for Sarawak\u2019s rights the way our CM Abang Johari has done.\u00a0Like Tok Nan, Abang Jo is a wise and kind man who prefers diplomacy\u00a0over invoking Article 8 of MA63 but everyone can see that Malaya has\u00a0gone too far and has taken CM Abang Jo\u2019s kindness very much for\u00a0granted.<\/p>\n

Invoking Article 8 of MA63 is a constitutional power that\u00a0lies within Sarawak’s DUN.\u00a0We wholeheartedly support CM Abang Jo on his statement to the press\u00a0that the GPS-led state government could implement policies and shape\u00a0the future direction of Sarawak without having to rely on the federal\u00a0government. GPS is an independent party and we are no longer tied-up\u00a0with parties in Putrajaya. We have indeed learned our lesson well.\u00a0There should be NO outside interference in the state administration!\u00a0Only Sarawakians can manage Sarawak!<\/p>\n

Datuk Amar Speaker<\/p>\n

Arguing over the Constitution takes time and may not necessarily\u00a0return us our rights in the way expected by us. On the other hand,
\nArticle 8 of MA63 gives us full authority to enforce our rights as\u00a0enshrined and guaranteed under MA63 without the need to consult\u00a0Malaya. CM, Abang Jo has already cited the implementation of the 5%\u00a0sales tax on petroleum products and the required permit (licences and\u00a0leases) under the Oil Mining Ordinance 1958 and Gas Distribution\u00a0Ordinance 2016 for companies to be involved in the oil and gas\u00a0industries in Sarawak. We fully expect Malaya to respect MA63 and\u00a0comply with the laws passed through our DUN.<\/p>\n

There is really no excuse for the Federal government not to act in\u00a0good faith as per MA63. Instead of adhering to the 18 points set out\u00a0in MA63 to protect Sarawak from the more well developed Malaya, Malaya\u00a0plundered our resources and left us in a poorly developed state and\u00a0continues to do so right up to 2019 when we received the smallest\u00a0slice of the pie in the national budget despite the massive bulk of\u00a0our contributions by way of our oil and gas.<\/p>\n

The Malaysia we would be proud of is one with a multicultural and\u00a0harmonious society like what we have here in Sarawak where diversity\u00a0and inclusivity are celebrated with equal opportunities . All this,\u00a0while giving special assistance to the B40 regardless of ethnicity. I\u00a0urge our Prime Minister\u00a0 to review and reform our policy of student\u00a0intakes at all levels of colleges and universities, including the\u00a0matriculation programme.<\/p>\n

Only with unbiased intake of students and\u00a0fair opportunities for all can we prevent brain drain. Only when these\u00a0brains are in Malaysia can we succeed and be competitive globally.\u00a0Tell us how Sarawakians are going to support parties like PH Sarawak\u00a0who are in cohort with their Malayan masters and singing to the tune\u00a0of their Malayan masters. The Sabahan state government may be willing\u00a0to trade their rights away for 28 bridges but Sarawak will not do\u00a0that.<\/p>\n

Tun Dr. Mahathir in his speech in Bintulu says Sarawak and Sabah do\u00a0not want independence. I would like to challenge Tun on his statement.\u00a0Giving the green light to do a Referendum would be one of the wishes\u00a0of the people on this very subject. A referendum is a peaceful way of\u00a0finding out the people\u2019s aspiration and wishes. For a properly done\u00a0referendum, we the people need to be a mature society and to act\u00a0responsibly. At no time should there be violence of any kind . This is\u00a0the Sarawak’s ] way. Nobody wants to see Emergency Act in force a\u00a0second time round because that was how we lost our oil and gas to\u00a0Malaya.<\/p>\n

While we are disappointed with Sabah for supporting PH, let us not be\u00a0clouded by the fact that this is the oldest political move to divide\u00a0and weaken regional politics in Sarawak and Sabah and ultimately\u00a0bringing an end to MA63.\u00a0A young Sarawakian recently posted this on Facebook \u2018In 1963, we were\u00a0not there to decide. In 1976, we were also not there to decide. In\u00a02019, we want to make it right!\u00a0I would like to echo his thoughts. In 1963, I was three years old. In\u00a01976, when Malaya downgraded us to one of the thirteen states, I was\u00a0sixteen years old. In 2019, I am now 59 years old. I not only want to\u00a0make things right; I WILL make things right for generations that come\u00a0after me.<\/p>\n

As a Sarawakian, I am tired of the absurd flip flop PH policies. I am\u00a0tired of all the broken promises. I am fed up with Kota Sentosa\u2019s\u00a0political rhetorics in this DUN. Only GPS can protect Sarawak! Terus\u00a0jak, Abang Jo. Sarawak is with you. Utamakan Sarawak! Hoo Haa.<\/p>\n

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Honourable Datuk Amar Speaker, Thank you for the honour and opportunity to debate on TYT’s opening\u00a0address at the first meeting of the fourth term of the 18th State\u00a0Legislative Assembly (DUN). I support TYT’s address wherein TYT\u00a0acknowledges our hardworking people, calls for continued peace,\u00a0prosperity and understanding among our people. Equal representation in Parliament 1. I would like to start off by reminding everyone in this August\u00a0House that Sarawak is protected by the 18 points set out in MA63 and\u00a0that we are entitled to equal representation in Parliament as stated\u00a0in MA63. WeRead More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24360,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24359"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24359"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24359\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24361,"href":"https:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24359\/revisions\/24361"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/24360"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24359"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24359"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24359"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}