‘Dr M could have easily repealed Petroleum Development Act as PM’

KUCHING: Pakatan Harapan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad could have easily repealed the Petroleum Development Act during his 22-year tenure as Prime Minister as he had a twothirds majority all the time, said Sarawak United Peoples’ Party ( SUPP) Youth chief Tan Kai.

Tan, who is a political secretary to the Chief Minister, was responding to Dr Mahathir’s statement that the latter’s hands were tied as the Act was drafted and approved before his time as prime minister, hence he could not do anything about the oil royalty and funds to be given to Sarawak.

“I wish to remind him that during his time as the Prime Minister of Malaysia for 22 years, he had two-thirds majority all the time and he could have easily repealed the law, if he thought that it was not fair to Sarawak,” he said in a press statement yesterday.

With regards to Dr Mahathir’s statement that he was willing to discuss with Sarawak and Sabah regarding their respective 20-point Agreement and 16- point Agreement, Tan pointed out that, in fact, it should be 18-point Agreement for Sarawak and not 16- point Agreement as mentioned by the former PM.

“This is basic knowledge (of knowing that it is 18-point Agreement for Sarawak). It showed that in his ( Dr Mahathir’s) mind, he never bothers about Sarawak’s autonomy. In fact, he’s insulting the intelligence of Sarawakians.”

In view of this, Tan said: “Sarawakians’ fate relies solely on the hands of Sarawakians. We must unite and make ourselves stronger and never lay our future on Malaya parties.”