PH govt obliged to fulfil ‘Promise 41’, says association
KUCHING: Sarawak Patriot Association ( SPA) wants the Pakatan Harapan ( PH) government to be accountable for their promises pledged under its manifesto for the 14th general election ( GE14), particularly ‘ Promise 41’, which states ‘ its promise to ensure the prosperity of the people of Sarawak and Sabah by enhancing the states’ economic growth.
ThesecondparagraphofPromise 41, reads: ‘Our government will increase petroleum royalty to Sabah and Sarawak to 20 per cent or equivalent, as a first step in distributing petroleum revenue equitably. This will enable Sabah and Sarawak to take over responsibilities for more development expenditure’.
In this regard, SPA chairman Datuk Lau Pang Heng said it was ‘very disappointing’ to learn that during the recent Parliament sitting, the Minister of Economic Affairs Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said the 20- per cent oil royalty payment would be based on net profit, and not on gross production of oil and gas.
“If the PH government is sincere in its practice of transparency and accountability, it should fulfil its election pledge to the people
If the PH government is sincere in its practice of transparency and accountability, it should fulfil its election pledge to the people of Sarawak by giving Sarawak the 20 per cent oil royalty based on production, as this is what Sarawakians are expecting. Datuk Lau Pang Heng, SPA chairman
of Sarawak by giving Sarawak the 20 per cent oil royalty based on production, as this is what Sarawakians are expecting.
“We strongly urge all the Sarawak MPs, especially those from PH, to stand up and be united in ensuring that the PH government fulfils its Promise No 41 – to increase oil royalty to 20 per cent, which should be based on production,” he said in a press statement yesterday.
Nevertheless, SPA believed that Sarawak is never against the sharing of its resources, said Lau, adding that it has been doing so without any complaint for the past 42 years.
“Therefore, SPA hopes that the federal government would consult and work together with our (Sarawak) government before making any final decision on the oil royalty, in view of the interest of Sarawakians. It must be reminded that without the participation of Sarawak and Sabah in 1963, there would be no Malaysia,” he said.