A pressman tries to screen-shoot the image of Adenan on the projector’s screen in the complex’s media room. The chief minister is seen here delivering his speech at the start of one-day DUN sitting. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: “Do you think you can even get through the door?”
This question was thrown to the opposition by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem when he touched on the ongoing negotiations with the federal government to increase oil royalty from the current five to 20 per cent during the one-day State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting yesterday.
Adenan admitted that the state had not made any progress on the negotiations, but the prime minister had given his assurance that once the country’s economy improved, Putrajaya would consider the request favourably.
“Needless to say, the opposition will not be happy. But let me ask them, if you were to negotiate with the federal government, do you think you can even get through the door?
“You must remember that the federal government is a Barisan Nasional government – they are surely more sympathetic to a Barisan government in the state. If anybody is to achieve it, it would be nobody else but us.
“So please don’t interfere. You are making the case worse. If you were to undertake it, you can’t even get through the door.”
Adenan disclosed that he had informed the prime minister that he would not rest until Sarawak got what it wanted.
“I will not stop negotiating until we get what we want,” he said, adding that he had also told Petronas that all the state government cared about was the oil and gas that was found in Sarawak.
“If it is found in Johor, Pahang or Terengganu, I don’t care – it’s their business. But if it is in Sarawak, we make it our business. That is why we are the government of this state.
“So that is the response, and I hope there would be more progress on this matter.”
Seeking a point of clarification, Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Kota Sentosa) asserted that to negotiate for the 20 per cent oil royalty: “You just need to change government because the opposition has pledged that should the opposition come into power, it is 20 per cent oil royalty for Sarawak.”
“Now Sarawak BN has 25 MPs. That is just nice to tilt the balance of power in the federal government. You should leverage on that number until you get it, or if you declare out of BN.
“I bet you my bottom dollar that the prime minister will come to your door and say, ‘Okay, I give you the 20 per cent, you just don’t leave BN.’ That is the leverage you have. Maximise on that leverage.”
Responding to this, Adenan said: “That is not the way we do things. We prefer conciliation and friendly negotiation than confrontation.
“If they agreed in the first place, there would be no need for us to quarrel with one another. So don’t confront them. You are advocating confrontation. The other side will have their back to the wall and the only way they can respond is to kick back. That we don’t envisage.
“And talking about alternative government taking over Kuching or Kuala Lumpur, that is a dream that would become a nightmare for you. At least for the next two-and-a-half years or three years, the government at Kuala Lumpur will still be Barisan government, anyway. Unless, of course, you want to topple the government through unconstitutional means.”