Dr Annuar refutes claim about state govt unwilling to manage health, education ministries

SIBU: Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee has refuted Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sarawak chief Chong Chieng Jen’s claim about the state government unwilling to take up the responsibility in managing the health and education ministries.

In this regard, Dr Annuar pointed out that the state government is more than willing to accept such responsibility – if the federal government decided to devolve the power to Sarawak.

Dr Annuar, who is also Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health, argued that there is no need to change the state government in order for Sarawakians to obtain autonomy.

“To set the record straight once and for all, health and education matters are under the purview of the federal government. Therefore under the constitution, rightfully it is the obligation of the federal government to provide allocations to the state (to implement the necessary projects).

“And whether the federal government wants to implement the projects themselves or channels the allocations to Sarawak for the projects – it depends on them (federal government).

“So, we don’t need to wait for the state government to change (after the next state election) because the authority is with the federal government now. Of course, we would prefer decentralisation – it is not that the state government is ‘running away’ from shouldering the responsibilities,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Dr Annuar cited education as an example for his argument.

“If the federal government wants to give us the allocation to repair the dilapidated schools in Sarawak, it would be so much better as we can decide which Sarawakian-owned company will implement the projects. It will create more jobs for Sarawakians, besides stimulating other economic activities,” he added.

Dr Annuar, who is Nangka assemblyman, said this in response to Chong’s statement that the only way for Sarawakians to acquire autonomy was to change the state government in the next state election.

Referring to the devolution of power in education and healthcare, Chong had accused the state government of being unwilling to take up the responsibility.

On this, Dr Annuar said the state government has three more years left in its mandate.

“It is a long wait for the end of three years in order for the federal government to cooperate with the state government. It will sound illogical to the people.

“The state government, as rightly pointed out by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, is willing to work together unless it (federal government) does not want to cooperate – now that is a different matter,” he said.

As such, Dr Annuar said he could not understand what Chong meant in saying that the only way for Sarawakians to acquire autonomy would be to change the state government in the next state election.

Dr Annuar believed that it is time for the elected representatives to start serving the people after the conclusion of the 14th general election.

He said the people are fed up with ‘all the politicking’ and want to see the manifesto promised by the PH-led government fulfilled.

“The people have spoken and the federal government now is helmed by PH. Let’s do our work and we at the state level are willing to cooperate as there are still lots of catching-up to do.

“Stop all this politicking and devote time to serve the people. People changed the government as they wanted something good. So, do something good for them. That is my message to YB Chong.

“I wish him all the best and if he becomes one of the federal ministers, he would have to deliver as people will want to see him perform,” Dr Annuar said.