‘PKR, PSB’s statements ‘clear proof’ of interest in power grabs, not Sarawak’s wellbeing’
KUCHING: The recent statements issued by Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak against Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak is clear proof that these groups are more interested in their respective power grabs than the wellbeing of Sarawak and its people, said Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) parliamentary chief whip Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
He said these people had no qualms about accepting political ‘frogs’ that kept on jumping in and out of parties endlessly.
“They argue endlessly too about who gets what, and how to share the spoils in their aim to take control of Sarawak,” Fadillah said in a statement yesterday.
He was referring to the statement by PSB president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh yesterday, which chided DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen over his recent remark on Sarawak ‘needing a strong opposition in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) so that GPS would not have access to a blank cheque’, as well as the various statements by PKR against DAP over the allocation of DUN seats in the upcoming state election.
Fadillah pointed out that political instability and incompetence shown by these opposition groups since the 14th General Election (GE14), that led to the wellbeing of Malaysians and the development of other states being negatively impacted, showed very clearly why a strong, united, stable, competent and proven Sarawak government that respects the rights of all ethnic groups and religions and is fully focused on development must be the clear choice to steer Sarawak through this critical period of the pandemic recovery.
“This is why GPS must be the clear choice for all Sarawakians in the upcoming elections,” he stressed.
Fadillah said during this critical Covid-19 period, GPS has clear plans and goals in place and at the same time, it has already started executing to steer Sarawak during the recovery phase and towards greater development and a better life for all Sarawakians.
“Let us fulfil our vision for Sarawak. Let us not be disturbed by those bickering and disunited groups who are incompetent, only interested in grabbing power but have no clear plans for Sarawak,” he said.
Fadillah added that GPS today remains fully committed in fulfilling the vision of the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, for Sarawak.
“Pehin Sri had a vision – a peaceful and harmonious multicultural Sarawak. A progressive and developed Sarawak that strongly protects its rights from the Semenanjung political parties.
“One example is the joint declaration from Pehin Sri (Adenan) together with the federal government in April 2015 that in Sarawak, all transportation must be toll-free and ferry-free.
“Today, we have successfully delivered toll-free for the entirety of Sarawak, and when all existing tolls were abolished in 2016 is proof of this,” he said.
Fadillah, who is also Minister of Works, noted that the rapid progress in opening up the stages of the fully toll-free Pan Borneo Highway that will bring great progress, comfort and safety for all Sarawakians is another proof of this.
“Although delayed by the cancellation of funding by the previous Pakatan Highway government post-GE14, Sarawak will also be fully ferry-free in the year 2026 when all 11 bridges are fully completed.
“Recently completed and already in use are the Batang Sadong Bridge and Batang Samarahan Bridge,” he said, adding that nine other bridges funded by the Sarawak government are also in various phases of construction and are expected to open to traffic in the next four years.
He said the current GPS government, in protecting Sarawak’s rights and its lands, had also bought back the Bakun Dam from the federal government in 2017 at a price that would ensure that the state would profit greatly in the future after it was taken from Sarawak by the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia.
“It is on our land and it is our right to take it back. Because of this, Sarawak now fully controls its own electricity generation and transmission capacity and Sarawakians enjoy the lowest tariffs and cleanest electricity in Malaysia,” he said.