PSB taunts GPS over DPM post, inability to defend state's rights

 

Gabungan Parti Sarawak's (GPS) failure to secure the deputy prime minister post again reaffirmed its inability in defending the rights of the Borneo state, said Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB).

It urged Sarawakians to wake up to the stark reality, contrary to what Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg (above) had been saying about the superb job the GPS had been doing.

"We remember the multiple calls by GPS leaders for a Sarawakian MP from GPS to be appointed the deputy prime minister," said PSB secretariat in a statement today.

"For a week, Sarawakians have waited with bated breath, hoping and praying that one of their own, from among the government MPs, would be appointed into the position.

"The timing was perfect because Sarawak is preparing to go into the next state election, and a deputy premier from Sarawak will be the perfect weapon for GPS. But alas, it was not to be," it added.

There was no deputy prime minister in the new cabinet line-up unveiled by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob yesterday. GPS' Fadillah Yusof remained as senior minister (work). 

"The myth that GPS, the rebranded Sarawak BN, has fought to reclaim Sarawak’s lost rights and won must be debunked. Yes, changing shirts has not made you into a new man.

"After 58 years of being subservient to Malayan leaders in the federal government, saying ‘after you, boss’ to Malayan leaders in the federal government, has become second nature to them," said PSB secretariat.

The secretariat drew its conclusion from Sarawak BN leaders who supported Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution, which enactment of the Petroleum Development Act 1974 and Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution, effectively reduced the status of Sarawak from a "wilayah" to a federated state, as well as the amendment of Petroleum Development Act, which conferred on the federal government exclusive rights to the oil and gas resources of Sarawak in its entirety.

"In 2012, MPs from Sarawak BN supported and voted for the Territorial Sea Act, which reduced Sarawak’s territorial waters from 12 nautical miles to only three nautical miles," it added.

PSB secretariat also took issue with Putrajaya's decision to classify the final report of the cabinet special committee review on the implementation of Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), under the Official Secrets Act 1972.

"On Aug 13, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali revealed that the documents are in fact not official secrets but their contents cannot be revealed as negotiations with the federal government was still ongoing.

"It is quite clear that there exist concerted efforts to hide the contents of those documents from Sarawakians but it does not matter much anymore. Sarawakians have reached their own conclusions on the matter: Those documents must contain proof of Sarawak MPs from BN colluding with Malayan leaders to remove Sarawak’s rights in the constitution and in the MA63.

"Where exactly has the GPS been successful in recovering Sarawak’s lost rights? The many hardships experienced by Sarawakians today, particularly Sarawakians in the rural areas are the direct result of the failures of GPS.

"Sarawakians, this is the time to wake up to the reality of being governed by GPS," it said.  - Mkini