Call on Putrajaya for timeframe ‘after waiting 50 years’
KUCHING: The federal government must set a timeframe towards realising the devolution of power to Sarawak if it was serious about returning the rights to Sarawakians.
In making this call, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Women national vice-president Voon Shiak Ni said she viewed the federal government’s willingness to consider returning such rights to Sarawak positively but at the same time, she emphasised the need for a timeframe to have this longstanding issue being ironed out.
“It’s good to read the response from our prime minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) that he would continue and have no problem in pursuing the policy initiated by Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.
“However, we need Putrajaya to set a timeframe for the devolution of power and autonomy to Sarawak to be discussed and implemented,” she said in a statement yesterday.
Voon observed that the pursuit towards giving back Sarawak its rights and autonomy, which Adenan had been fighting for throughout the three years since he took the helm of the state administration, had seen little progress.
“This call for devolution of power and autonomy has been supported by all political parties and civil societies – in short, by all Sarawakians. How long do we have to wait?” she questioned.
Voon said during the parliamentary session last November, Miri MP Dr Michael Teo who is also PKR Miri chairman, called for the status and progress update on the devolution of power to Sarawak.
“The answer from prime minister was that the discussions and meetings for the issue were ongoing, but the details on the progress were not for public consumption – it’s a secret.
“Dr Teo will ask the same question again in the next Parliament sitting next month,” she added.
Voon stressed that a Bill should be drafted if Putrajaya was serious about respecting and returning such rights to Sarawakians, who had been short-changed for more than 50 years.
“A Bill should be drafted as soon as the issue is tabled in Parliament to facilitate the process for the devolution of power and autonomy to the Sarawak government.
“What is so difficult (about it)? To recap, it has been three years and we believe that ample time has been spent in consideration of the matter,” she stressed.