Sabah, Sarawak status: If there’s a will, there’s a way
KUCHING: The federal government needs to provide certainty on whether it wants to restore the status of Sarawak and Sabah as equal partners with Peninsular Malaysia, said Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) MPs whip Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof.
“If there is a will, it can be done. The question is whether they want it or not,” he said when commenting on Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s backpedalling on his announcement of restoring equal partnership for Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.
On Sunday night, Dr Mahathir told Malaysia Day celebrants in Kota Kinabalu that equal status for Sabah and Sarawak would be restored but the following day, the premier said restoration of equal status can only be effected if the ruling Pakatan Harapan ( PH) government has two- thirds majority in Parliament and more so if the opposition supports the move.
“Whatever it is, it is not fair to assume so early that the opposition
Whatever it is, it is not fair to assume so early that the opposition will not agree to it (restoration). Such presumption will breed public confusion and also suspicion towards the Sarawak government when Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is continuing the late former chief minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem’s legacy in calling for devolution of powers from the federal to state government as specified in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) MPs whip
will not agree to it (restoration). Such presumption will breed public confusion and also suspicion towards the Sarawak government when Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is continuing the late former chief minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem’s legacy in calling for devolution of powers from the federal to state government as specified in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 ( MA63),” said the Petra Jaya MP.
The previous Barisan Nasional ( BN) government in fact had set up a Cabinet- sanctioned special committee to address the matters surrounding the devolution of powers, including the allocation of income for the three regions, he pointed out.
As for Sarawak, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had agreed that 13 jurisdictions be returned to Sarawak while allowing Sarawak to send delegates to London on a fact- finding mission about the MA63, he added.
“This shows that the Sarawak government is serious in its struggle to fight for the return of state rights,” said Fadillah.
“If the restoration of equal status benefits the people Sarawak, GPS will certainly agree to it,” he added.
Meanwhile Sabah’s Karanaan assemblyman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun on Monday said PH needs to table the bill on restoration of status for Sabah and Sarawak in the October sitting of Parliament to find out if the opposition agrees with the move, while BN strongman Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said equal status may also mean Sarawak and Sabah will lose their immigration autonomy.
On Monday, Nazri told The Borneo Post that there will only be equal status when there is no more restriction imposed on any region.