KUCHING: The rude remarks of Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz towardsTourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah did not surprise Assistant Minister of Corporate Affairs Abdullah Saidol.
“I still remember him making a statement that was quoted by a few newspapers sometime in September last year that Sabah and Sarawak would not get the Ministry’s assistance if the two states choose not to impose the Tourism Service Fee (TSF). The proposal on TSF was also objected to by Sabah and Matta (Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents).
“Instead of belittling and insulting Karim, Nazri shoud be sensitive and fully understand the ongoing sentiment and frustration in Sarawak now especially on our state constitutional rights, the lack of development funding from the federal (government) and unfulfilled election promises made by federal ministers,” Abdullah said in a press statement yesterday.
Abdullah, who is Semop assemblyman, was commenting on Nazri’s recent statement that Abdul Karim “is just a new minister, he shouldn’t show off. If he doesn’t understand anything, he should meet me”.
In trying to paint a picture that Abdul Karim was inexperienced, Nazri also labelled Abdul Karim as a ‘setahun jagung’ (greenhorn) and ‘masih budak lagi’ (still a child). He made the statements following Abdul Karim’s statement opposing the Tourism Tax, which the federal government intends to implement starting July 1.
Being a ‘self-proclaimed’ senior federal minister, Abdullah said Nazri who at one time was the Minister-in-charge of Law, is surely aware that the imposition of the Tourism Tax in Sarawak as well as introducing the Tourism Tax Bill without informing the Sarawak State Government is a breach of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Abdullah pointed out.
“We are not arguing about the Federal rights to enact law with regards to taxation but we are becoming infuriated when there is a lack of consultation with the state on the matter. Perhaps, the federal government should be reminded about the 13 Provisions of Administrative Empowerment to be delegated to Sarawak,” he said.
State Government which was agreed upon during the late Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Putrajaya on Jan 21, 2016.
“Amongst other things, it was agreed that; ‘The state government will be consulted in the drafting of federal legislations which have a bearing or impact on the state government especially relating to financial matters’.”
In noting that Nazri need not only be reminded about Sarawak’s position in the Malaysia Agreement, Abdullah said Nazri should also be reminded that ‘Tourism’ was only included in the Federal List in 1994 through an Act of Parliament (Act A885).
“And for the record, that was done without prior consultation and approval from the state government. And I also wish to highlight that it was Nazri who tabled the Territorial Sea Act (TSA) 2012 in Parliament on April 18, 2012 and passed (the Bill) on the same day. None of Sarawakian MPs was present including those from the opposition.
“This TSA is one of the crucial subject of discussing among Sarawakians because is it perceived as an Act that caused Sarawak to lose sovereign rights on her continental shelf. Maybe if we go deeper into the matter, the TSA may even be ‘unconstitutional’.”
“I don’t care if he is the biggest ‘gangster’ in Putrajaya, he should by now learn to respect us Sarawakians. Umno is a respectable political party with so much history in building this nation but Umno does not need ‘snobbish political gangsters’ like Nazri if they are serious of winning the next General Election.”
“Sarawak will play an important part in contributing the winning BN Seats in this coming General election. With such supercilious attitude shown by a federal minister concerning our interest in Sarawak and the overwhelming anger from many Sarawakians in response to Nazri’s statement, it is going to be a bit tough because it may affect their political confidence in Putrajaya.”