“If Sarawak BN can bring changes and make things happen while the state opposition coalition just 'waits and sees', why is Sarawak as a state and Sarawakians as a people so deprived in many ways?”
Dr Kelvin Yii (above), DAP's parliamentary candidate for Stampin has issued this question to SUPP president Dr Sim Kui Hian who last Saturday during the launch of the new SUPP youth logo, Edge, said Sarawak BN had the power to make things happen while the state opposition coalition “just waits and sees”.
“I am appalled by SUPP and Dr Sim Kui Hian’s statement. This shows both his lack of understanding regarding the roles of the government and the opposition.
“It is also a deliberate attempt to mislead the people in hiding their failures as a ruling government to bring ‘equal development’ to the state,” he told Malaysiakini today.
He said: “If Sarawak BN which SUPP is part of really was able to bring changes, Sarawak would have been one of the most developed states in Malaysia with all the rich resources we possess.
“However, not only are our people one of the poorest in the nation but our state is severely lacking behind in development even in basic necessities such as clean-flowing water and electricity to every home especially in the rural areas.
He pointed out how as of now, 70 percent of the 1,454 schools in Sarawak had been categorised as dilapidated and in need of the immediate attention of the authorities.
Besides that, 45 percent of the 209 clinics in Sarawak were without doctors and many of these clinics were in dilapidated conditions and also lacked water and electric supply, he added.
“The availability of clean water supply in the rural areas is only at 61 percent and that means an extra 39 percent or an estimated 114,000 households are without clean water supply to their homes.
“Besides this, basic access roads into the different rural towns are also severely non-existent,” Yii who is also special assistant to state DAP chairperson, Chong Chieng Jen said.
“Thus, Sim’s accusation is not just unfounded but proves that the alleged inability of the opposition to 'bring development’ in these areas is purely the fault of the ruling government which is BN Sarawak.
He said, Sim should read the Hansard and see how DAP representatives have spoken up against issues concerning the interest of Sarawak including the implementation of GST and Tourism Tax and the Merchant Shipping Bill 2017 which encroaches the state’s rights to port management.
Others included access to Biological Resources and Benefits Sharing Act 2017 which encroaches on the state’s rights to forest resources, the UEC examination recognition and many others.
Yii said: “The irony is, that all the laws and policies that were passed in Parliament that took away our interests and rights were not only supported fully by BN Sarawak representatives but many were also tabled and seconded by themselves.
“This includes the tabling of the Petroleum Development Act 1974 which was tabled by our current Governor Taib Mahmud when he was in Parliament.
“The downgrading of our territorial state in 1976 was fully supported by SUPP and also BN Sarawak’s lawmakers while the tabling of the Territorial Sea Act 2012 was seconded by SUPP’s own MP Yong Khoon Seng and supported by all BN Sarawak members of Parliament.
“I thus urge Sim to stop insulting the intelligence of the people and stop misleading the people of Sarawak.
“The things that BN Sarawak indeed 'made happen' in the state were the implementation of oppressive laws and taxes including the GST, the Anti- Fake News Law, the National Security Act which has allowed grand corruption and power abuse to prevail,” said Yii. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.