DAP leader: Honour election promise of 20% rate to S’wak

KUCHING: Pakatan Harapan should honour its promise of giving 20% oil royalty to Sarawak as this is what Sarawakians expected, said a DAP leader.

Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei said the Federal Government would be “reprimanded” by the people if it did not fulfil its election pledges.

“The promise of 20% oil royalty has received high expectations from Sarawakians.

“Unless there is a justifiable reason, this is not to be compromised,” he said yesterday.

Wong claimed that the pledge was part of a “package” under which the 20% oil royalty would be given to Sarawak together with 50% of taxes collected in the state, plus autonomy in education and health.

“With the additional royalty and taxes, Sarawak would be able to cover its educational and health expenditure.

“This way, we would also be able to ease the Federal Government’s burden,’’ he said.

Wong, the DAP Youth deputy chief and Sarawak Pakatan manifesto committee member, urged the Government to disclose the formula used to calculate the current 5% royalty and the amount derived from the proposed 20% royalty based on net profit.

“Trust is a vital pillar of any government. Without that, we are not going to last long,” he warned.

In Sibu, Sarawak Reform Party (STAR) president Lina Soo said the Petroleum Development Act 1974 and Territorial Sea Act 2012 were unconstitutional as it was not approved by the Sarawak Legislative Assembly as required under the Sarawak Constitution.

She said a special assembly sitting should be convened to officially reject the two Acts.

“We are guided by the Sarawak Constitution, Malaysia Agreement (1963) and Federal Constitution.

“The Sarawak government must take all constitutional measures to make sure that we do not lose our rights,” she said.

Soo said the party’s stand is that Sarawak oil belonged to the state.