No formation of GPS-PAS coalition, assures DUN Sarawak Speaker
KUCHING: Gabungan Parti Sarawak ( GPS) will not form a coalition with Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), but will instead focus on parliamentary cooperation and collaboration that transcend partisan polemic, says State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar.
He reiterates the stand taken by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, given that views have been expressed about the ideology and doctrine of PAS, which are not acceptable in Sarawak.
Speaking when receiving a courtesy call from Kelantan DUN Speaker Datuk Abdullah Ya’kub and his delegation at the DUN Complex here yesterday, Asfia noted some ‘ coincidences of circumstances’ between Kelantan and Sarawak.
“Like Sarawak, Kelantan is an oil-gas rich state that benefits very li le from such resources.
“Under the policy and philosophy of ‘shared prosperity’, the wealth of the state (Kelantan) is carted away, resulting in the perpetuation of poverty. Anyone is ready and willing to share your wealth and have a lion’s share of that wealth, but no one is keen to share your poverty.
“Although these circumstances sound familiar, be rest assured that this discussion with the Kelantan parliamentary delegation should remain strictly parliamentary,” he said.
According to Asfia, DUN Sarawak has been visited by the speakers, senators and parliamentarians from various states and those from the Upper House of Malaysia, including representatives of Melaka, Terengganu, Negeri Sembilan and now Kelantan.
He pointed out that the inter-parliamentary visits, whereby representatives of parliaments of the region would visit one another, had been the practice and tradition among the Commonwealth countries under the auspices of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
“The current visit by the Honourable Speaker of DUN Kelantan, together with their Public Account Commi ee (PAC), is a parliamentary cooperation and collaboration between states. This is where one learns from the other, as a result in the cross-politicisation of ideas and practices,” he said.
During the courtesy call, Asfia spoke about the oil and oil fields of Sarawak, licensing authority and state sales tax.
Meanwhile, Abdullah said he appreciated the information that was relayed to the visiting delegation by the host, particularly on oil royalty.
“We feel that Kelantan is similar in terms of agreement, but Sarawak is lucky to have received a portion of the oil royalty. We did not get anything since the beginning of the agreement between the state of Kelantan and Petronas in 1975,” he said.
DUN Sarawak Deputy Speaker Dato Gerawat Gala, DUN Secretary Pele Peter TInggom, PAC Sarawak chairman Aidel Lariwoo and members Mohd Chee Kadir and See Chee How, as well as DUN Kelantan Deputy Speaker Datuk Abdul Fa ah Mahmood, were also present at the session.
Like Sarawak, Kelantan is an oil-gas rich state that benefits very little from such resources.
Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar