Chong (second right) addresses the press conference.
KUCHING: State Pakatan Harapan (PH) chief Chong Chieng Jen has declared that the only way for Sarawakians to acquire autonomy is to change the state government during the next election.
Referring to the devolution of power in education and healthcare, Chong accused the state government of being unwilling to take up the responsibility.
“Either the state BN (Barisan Nasional) has no confidence in managing the two ministries (health and education), or just simply not interested in taking over the responsibilities. We cannot devolve power to someone who refuses to take responsibility of managing that power,” claimed Chong, who is state Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman, during a press conference yesterday.
He blamed the state government for the setback to the devolution agenda by refusing to sign the New Deal Agreement.
However, he claimed PH remains committed to the devolution and decentralisation agenda for Sarawak.
“PH will continue to explore other avenues of devolution of power, including the setting up of a special cabinet committee to study other aspects of the devolution of power,” he said.
On whether he would be leading the special cabinet committee, he said the committee had yet to be formed.
Chong had on Wednesday said the deal to restore the rights of Sarawak under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) offered by PH to the state was off the table because the state had refused to sign the New Deal Agreement proposed by PH before the election.
He said the agreement had, among others, offered the state 20 per cent oil royalty, as well as autonomy over education and health, if PH formed the federal government.
“To hand over the devolution of power, the recipient (the state government) needs to sign, and because they did not sign, so the deal is off,” Chong said.
His comments have been strongly criticised by various quarters, particularly online.
In contrast, state Parti
Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-chief See Chee How had said talks on Sarawak’s autonomy between the federal and state governments would continue despite the change in power.
He said the PH federal government would deal with the state government in accordance with PH’s Buku Harapan.