Tiong asks Chiew when S’wak would get its tax return

SIBU: Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing is asking Tanjung Batu assemblyman Chiew Chin Sing when the Sarawak government would get its rightful tax returns from the federal government, and also its autonomy.

In a press statement received here yesterday, Tiong said Chiew had emulated Chong Chieng Jen’s legacy in what he coined as having ‘betrayed Sarawak’.

He said Chong had wanted Sarawak to stop relying on the federal government for development funds.

Tiong, who is also Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, said: “Clearly, they willingly let the federal government collect our oil royalty and other forms of taxes, but on the other hand, they do not want Sarawak to receive grants from them.

“Pakatan Harapan is the federal government now; we have been waiting to negotiate Sarawak’s autonomy, but, it is not happening. The hope is fading. Sarawak is rich in natural resources, like oil and gas, mineral resources and others.

“Will Chiew agree that if we can derive our revenue from these, can

Will Chiew agree that if we can derive our revenue from these, can Sarawak be self-sufficient and its people benefit from them?

Sarawak be self-sufficient and its people benefit from them?”

Tiong questioned whether Chiew had put in any effort to materialise these rights.

“What have you done for the people of Sarawak?”

He said in the Sarawak Budget 2019, it was clearly stated that the government was finding ways to develop and improve its infrastructure, and raise the living standard of the people.

He said the Sarawak government had not received any reply from the federal government on the tax returns.

“Do we have to rely on the five per cent oil royalty to move forward”.

He also said the Sarawak government had not received any backing from Sarawak Pakatan Harapan, instead, they (the Sarawak PH) had been sarcastic towards the Sarawak government.

“They are in fact making the situation worst by fanning the people’s emotion by saying that the tax returns would burden them.

“All Sarawakians, including members of Sarawak PH, should protect our rights, and not destroy or obstruct them. Not only are they denying us a bigger royalty from our oil and gas, and other forms of taxes from Sarawak, they expect us to develop Sarawak on our own.”

“Are these what Chiew wants?”

Tiong said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had asked the people of Sarawak on Sept 24 to give Sarawak PH a whopping two-thirds majority in the next state election so that they could amend the constitution for their own good.

“Can’t they fulfill first what they had promised in their election manifesto?”

Tiong said PH had promised in the manifesto to speed up the economic growth of Sarawak and Sabah by increasing the oil and gas royalty to 20 per cent.

They had also pledged to give more grants for urban development, extend water and power supplies to the rural community, repair urban roads and bridges, and build railways, more schools and medical centres.

“I hope the people will see the true face of PH now. They were just giving out election goodies then. Now, the people have to bear the consequences.”

He also questioned whether there had been better policies in Peninsular Malaysia after PH won in the election there.

“Better policies are not about making the third national car and students switching to wearing black shoes,” he added.

Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, Bintulu MP