See to CM: Don’t praise Najib yet, the ‘ship’ is still in the dock at Putrajaya

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See Chee How

KUCHING: The Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and Sarawak state government should stop singing praises for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak when nothing material and definite with regards Sarawak’s autonomous rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and devolution of power to Sarawak is delivered from Putrajaya, or they may risk losing support of Sarawakians for their candidates in Sarawak, said Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How.

“The promise by Najib that the power and the rights of the people in Sarawak taken away ‘by design or inadvertently’ will be returned to Sarawak has turned stale.

“It has gone backward because the Prime Minister has a new promise that a high-level committee at the federal level would be established to negotiate with Sarawak on outstanding rights issues under the MA63.

“The ship is still in the dock, at Putrajaya,” said See, who is also state PKR vice chairman today.

See was commenting on Abang Johari’s statement at Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) convention on Saturday, officiated by Najib, that the latter (Najib) had done a lot for Sarawak and that Sarawakians should be grateful for it and return the favour.

Najib, in his speech at the PBB convention, gave his assurance that he is sincere when it comes to return what rightly belongs to the people of Sarawak.

See said Najib should not point fingers at others for the wrongs of the federal government taking away Sarawak’s rights over the last 55 years.

“Not only was he in the federal government for the most part of the 55 years, he (Najib) was already the prime minister when the Territorial Sea Act 2012 was passed to cause the biggest blow to Sarawak’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and he has until today not say a word about Sarawak’s request for repeal and or amendment.”

See was referring to the government’s motion on Sarawak’s rights, included the seeking of amendment to Territorial Sea Act 2012, which was unanimously passed by the Sarawak Legislative Assembly in 2015.

“The late Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem had made the representation to Putrajaya during his reign as the Chief Minister of Sarawak. The present Chief Minister should take up the responsibility to continue with the representation if he is sincere to follow through the legacy of the late Tok Nan. If we cannot safeguard our territorial integrity and sovereign rights to our territory, what is there for Sarawak?”

“We must also be reminded that the late Tok Nan did not brag about the Prime Minister and the federal government during his time as the Chief Minister of Sarawak. In fact, he had put in place measures to ensure that the federal government and agencies will come to the negotiation table with Sarawak, with regards to their exploits in the State,” said See.

See said the ‘bait‘ that the federal government will chip in for the state’s Light Railway Transit (LRT) project if Sarawakians voted for BN with an ‘A+’ results “is laughable and an insult to the intelligence of Sarawakians”.

“Not only are all Malaysians suffering the wrath of the country’s unprecedented huge debts, Sarawakians are living the hardship of the federal government’s empty and unrealized promises.

“Sarawak is now suffering from the tremendous damages caused by flooding because the flood mitigation projects and plans were stalled due to the lack of funds.

“Further, the promised funding for rebuilding of dilapidated schools are not given to Sarawak but through federal ministries and agencies. Conceivably, only a fraction of the RM1 billion will be spent on the rebuilding of schools in Sarawak.”

With the general election just around the corner, See said the prime minister and the federal ministers will certainly make more frequently visits to Sarawak to pledge for development projects and financial allocations.

“And there will be promises for autonomy and devolution of powers according to MA63. I do believe that Sarawakians have wised up to those pledges and promised which have tricked and eluded Sarawak for the last 55 years.”

In conclusion, See said that Sarawakians should count the promises delivered, with regards Sarawak’s autonomous rights under the MA63 and devolution of power to Sarawak delivered by the federal government, before deciding to vote in the same federal government again.