Chong claims Abang Johari confusing Sarawakians with statement on gaining regulatory power in O&G resources
KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has been accused of trying to confuse Sarawakians with his statement on Sarawak having gained regulatory power in its oil and gas resources.
Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sarawak and Democratic Action Party ( DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen, who levelled the charge against the state Barisan Nasional ( BN) chairman, said no one should equate regulatory power with ownership.
He pointed out that Petronas had the ownership of oil and gas in the state as stipulated under the Petroleum Development Act ( PDA) 1974 even if Sarawak had the regulatory power.
“Yes, you can have the regulatory power but you still don’t have the ownership, which means you’re still getting only five per cent of the oil and gas royalties.
“Abg Jo (Abang Johari) cannot get the 20 per cent which was unanimously passed in the State Legislative Assembly in 2014, so he talked about regulatory power instead.
“The regulatory power is akin to a regional manager of a bank. And we all know that only shareholders share the profits but the regional manager is taking the monthly salary only,” he said at a DAP fundraising dinner themed ‘New Deal New Hope’ here last Saturday.
Chong, who is Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman, said even if
Abg Jo (Abang Johari) cannot get the 20 per cent which was unanimously passed in the State Legislative Assembly in 2014, so he talked about regulatory power instead. The regulatory power is akin to a regional manager of a bank. And we all know that only shareholders share the profits but the regional manager is taking the monthly salary only.
Sarawakians continued to support BN in the 14th general election, all that the state BN could do would be to continue negotiating with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in the hope of restoring its autonomous rights that were eroded over the years.
“But PH is different from BN. Our election manifesto clearly states that Sarawak will get the 20 per cent oil and gas royalties as well as full power in education and healthcare if PH becomes the next federal government.
“There is no need to negotiate with federal PH anymore as it is in our manifesto, which is the promise of a political party to the people.
“If you continue to elect BN, they will try to negotiate. Between trying to negotiate and agreeing to return the autonomy on education and healthcare to Sarawak, I believe you know what to choose,” he said.
He said all PH asked of Malaysian voters “is to cast your vote right to change the government”.
According to Chong, PH has four trump cards; namely Goods and Services Tax ( GST), Felda, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, to make change happen.
“GST is affecting a lot of people, and the scandals of Felda and 1MDB are shaking the confidence of the people on BN, and we have Dr Mahathir, the miraculous man,” he said.
He said Dr Mahathir had recently told him over a meeting in Kuala Lumpur that state BN leaders during his time did not touch on Sarawak autonomy at all in all the Federal Cabinet meetings.
“He ( Dr Mahathir) said all those leaders talked about was development projects and what’s in it for them. They did not talk about autonomy or oil and gas royalties. All they asked for is projects.”
He added Dr Mahathir told him that it was not his fault when those state BN leaders asked for projects only. State DAP raised RM13,626 at the dinner, which was attended by some 1,500 supporters.
Chong Chieng Jen, chairman of PH Sarawak and DAP Sarawak