‘Dismissing impact of Dr M’s weekend visit a sign of desperation’
KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) supreme council member Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar’s recent statement in dismissing the impact of former prime minister (Pakatan Harapan leader) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s weekend visit to Kuching is described as not only a sign of desperation by PBB and Barisan Nasional Sarawak, but a direct admission of the failure of PBB and BN Sarawak to safeguard the interests of Sarawakians.
Special assistant to state DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen, Dr Kelvin Yii, said this in a press statement yesterday.
“His ( Wan Junaidi) statement also comes out of desperation and fear after seeing the sizeable turnout and support at the Pakatan Harapan ceramah in Kuching last night,” said Dr Yii.
Dr Yii noted that Wan Junaidi had alleged that former deputy prime minister and opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim did not give a single sen to the state to build schools in Sarawak.
“Instead of speaking out for the educational rights and needs of the state, in his own admission, he chose to stay quiet for 20 years.
“That itself is an admission of guilt, an admission of failure towards the people of Sarawak. He and all Barisan Nasional leaders in Sarawak were elected by the people of Sarawak to protect their rights and interest, but instead they have kow-towed to the wishes of their political master Umno,” said Dr Yii.
“Fact of the matter is, it is the silence of Sarawak Barisan Nasional in Parliament that has caused us to lose out on our rights and interest. No one man alone can pass a law or make an amendment in Parliament. It will require the majority of MPs to agree to it and Barisan Naional has the numbers to stop any erosion of our rights, but instead have chosen not to do so,” he added.
Dr Yii questioned: “Why only now when Mahathir and Anwar are part of the opposition, that they start to shift the blame towards them for all the lackings in our state. Wan Junaidi himself was elected into Parliament during the time of Mahathir, but yet chose to remain quiet even when, as he allegedly claimed, that Mahathir did nothing for the state.
“I am not in any way defending the things that Mahathir had done before, but Wan Junaidi’s statement has proven a trend how Sarawak BN leaders who are part of the government have chosen to conveniently shift the blame to one man, when it was them who allowed and agreed to the erosion of our state rights,” said Dr Yii.
He cited the Petroleum Development Act 1974, the downgrade of Sarawak’s rightful equal status under the federation due to constitutional amendments in 1976 passed in Parliament, the Territorial Sea Act 2012, and the recent implementation of Tourism Tax as examples of the erosion of the state’s rights.
“Pakatan Harapan has pledged to honour the rights of the state and promise equitable governance for the whole federation. It is thus important for us to work towards a better and equitable future for our nation and for our children.”