‘Federal, state civil servants need clear guidelines on boundaries, cooperation’
KUCHING: The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu ( PBB) Women wing wants the Federal Secretary to provide clear guidelines on cooperation and boundaries over responsibilities for the benefit of both federal and state civil servants.
The guidelines, including the ‘ Dos and Don’ts’, are needed urgently because of the current situation where the federal government and Sarawak government are opposition to each other, said PBB Women chief Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.
Fatimah, who is also Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development, pointed out that many civil servants at federal level are now in dilemma following May 9 general election.
“All of us – members of political parties, the public and civil servants – have to adapt to this change and new situation,” she told reporters at the Gabungan Parti Sarawak ( GPS) Women and PBB Women Aidilfitri do at her residence in Petra Jaya here yesterday.
According to her, such guidelines must be on paper and not simply passed through the telephone or WhatsApp application as messages may not be verified.
Earlier on, she said GPS Women and PBB Women held a meeting where they resolved to support the formation of GPS for the sake of the future wellbeing of Sarawakians, especially those from the younger generation, apart from protecting the rights of Sarawakians.
Fatimah added that both wings will play important role in strengthening national integration between the federal and Sarawak governments.
“GPS Women will make sure that women will not be sidelined from mainstream development and will continue to take care of the welfare of the people.
“We are making plans to pay a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister in Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the first woman deputy prime minister. Though we have yet to get a date for the courtesy call, we will be discussing on women development and the needs of Sarawak when we meet.”
Among those present with Fatimah were Assistant Minister of Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali and Tanjong Datu assemblywoman Datuk Jamilah Anu.
Meanwhile, Sharifah Hasidah said it would be up to Petroliam Nasional Berhad ( Petronas) to re- file claim of ownership over Sarawak’s oil and gas resources at the High Court.
“If Petronas wishes to bring the case to the High Court, that is their right and prerogative. I do not know if they (are going to) do so or not, and I certainly cannot say things on their behalf,” she said.
She asserted that by virtue of the Federal Court’s decision, the Oil Mining Ordinance (OMO) 1958 is still a valid and good law.
There is nothing for Sarawak government to file in relation to the oil and gas matter at the High Court because the Federal Court’s June 22 decision in dismissing Petronas’ application for leave to have their case heard is a good enough indicator for the Sarawak government to protect its own oil and gas resources using the OMO 1958, she said.
She added that Petronas now would have to follow the laws in Sarawak in pursuing the oil and gas sector in the state.
Sharifah Hasidah was responding to DAP Sarawak chairman and Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen’s call for the Sarawak government to file a case at the High Court if it was serious in claiming the rights over its oil and gas.
“We will not listen to Chong’s advice. The Sarawak government will make its own decision.”
We are making plans to pay a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister in Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the first woman deputy prime minister. Though we have yet to get a date for the courtesy call, we will be discussing on women development and the needs of Sarawak when we meet. Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, PBB Women chief