Warisan seen as trying to ride on GPS’ MA63 track record

 

A fair share of the oil revenue derived from Sarawak and Sabah is among the issues the states have been championing under the Malaysia Agreement 1963. (AFP pic)

PETALING JAYA: An analyst speculates that Warisan’s main aim in seeking an alliance with Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is to bolster support for itself in its home base of Sabah.

Commenting on Warisan’s push to set up a “Borneo bloc” with the Sarawak ruling coalition, Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said the party was apparently counting on GPS’ achievement of its reputation as a trustworthy entity after it regained key rights for Sarawak under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) following the last general election.

“For example, GPS as the ruling coalition in Sarawak managed to reimpose the 5% state sales tax on petroleum products,” he said.

The Sarawak government has also been vocal on the state’s use of English as an official language, autonomy in education, and the state’s status as a federation partner equal to Peninsular Malaysia.

-ADVERTISEMENT-

Ads by 

Awang Azman Pawi.

“I believe Warisan hopes that by working together, GPS’ reputation will rub off on it and create the impression the party can also resolve Sabah’s own MA63 issues,” Awang Azman told FMT.

Warisan deputy president Darell Leiking has floated the idea that his party and GPS could revive the idea of the Borneo bloc, and Warisan vice-president Junz Wong has said the Sabah-based party could work with GPS to fight for both states’ rights under MA63.

Another analyst, Lee Kuok Tiung of Universiti Malaysia Sabah, said Warisan might not draw the level of support that GPS has because the Sarawak coalition had been more aggressive in pursuing the state’s rights.

“I believe some Sabahans still remember how the Warisan government refused to join the Sarawak government in suing Petronas for the 5% state sales tax rights,” he told FMT in reference to the products that the national petroleum firm derived from Sarawak.

Lee Kuok Tiung.

The legal tussle between the Sarawak government and Petronas was ultimately resolved with the company agreeing to pay the 5% SST.

Lee noted that Warisan and GPS were not the only parties claiming to fight for MA63 rights.

“It is easy to say that you are an advocate but, in the end, there must be some form of results for people to see,” he said. - FMT