Peninsula politicians should learn from Borneo, Anwar says as stony-faced Zahid looks on

 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim waxed lyrical about East Malaysian politicians while sneaking in a few jabs at his deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi during his Malaysia Day address last night.

This comes amid tensions in Putrajaya, with Zahid needling Anwar to kick Umno out of the ruling coalition. If push comes to shove, Anwar will need the Borneo blocs' continued support to stay in power.

Anwar (above) delivered the Malaysia Day address in Kuching, Sarawak. Leaders from the federal and East Malaysian governments were present, including Zahid, Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg, and Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor.

In his speech, Anwar expressed gratitude to Sabah and Sarawak leaders for their camaraderie.

"I am grateful that at the cabinet level - yes, sometimes there are some voices at assemblies and so on. That is normal, keep calm," he said with a smile.

"But regarding my relationship with the Sarawak and Sabah government leaders, I deeply appreciate and am moved by such a strong friendship," he said.

The camera from the livestream of Anwar's speech then switched to a shot of Zahid sitting stony-faced while Sarawak Youth Minister Abd Karim Rahman Hamzah clapped (below).

Anwar then added: "I always tell my friends in the peninsula, there is much we can learn from Sabah and Sarawak leaders."

Zahid needles Anwar

Zahid, during the Umno general assembly, took multiple jabs at Anwar, criticising his economic policies and handling of Budi95 subsidies, and denouncing him as a teacher, while also challenging the premier to kick the party out of the federal government.

The Umno president - who wants a snap general election - claimed that this would cause the government to collapse.

However, that is not necessarily true.

Anwar commands support from 150 MPs, including seven ex-Bersatu lawmakers who are now independents.

BN only has 30 seats, and their exit would leave Anwar with 120 MPs - eight more than a simple majority.

However, to stay in power until the end of term, the prime minister will need support from the Borneo bloc, with Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) commanding 23 and seven MPs respectively. The other Borneo parties he needs continued support from are Warisan (3 MPs), Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (2), and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (1), as well as Parti Bangsa Malaysia (1), led by Sarawak-based politician Larry Sng.

Well-managed economy, strong leadership

Earlier in his speech, Anwar also praised the Sarawak government for its ability to pay RM1.8 billion to Putrajaya to complete the takeover of the Bintulu Port.

He said this was proof of a well-managed economy and strong leadership.

"I say this not to campaign for GPS, no," he said with a small laugh.

"But because, and Zahid knows this, I was snapped at in Parliament (by MPs) asking why allocations for Sabah and Sarawak were increased, as though I fear their (East Malaysia's) demands.

"I answer that I see this as a promise and upholding justice. They (East Malaysia) are left behind; their roads are full of holes, and the Pan Borneo Highway must be completed.

"This is not my promise, but the promise of our forefathers. I am only continuing it because, to me, leaders must implement and fulfil their promises," he said.

However, the prime minister said that the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) could not be fulfilled as long as peninsula politicians see it as an East Malaysian problem and not a national responsibility.

He said this is because some "uneducated" MPs don't seem to understand that there is the Malaya Agreement of 1957 and the MA63.

Special interim grant increased

As part of his administration's push to fulfil MA63, Anwar yesterday announced that Sarawak's special interim grant will be increased to RM1.5 billion, similar to the increase in special payments to Sabah.

The annual interim grants are a temporary fix pending a long-term formula to fulfil Putrajaya's revenue-sharing obligations to East Malaysia as per Article 112D of the Federal Constitution.

Previously, Anwar had also announced that Putrajaya will move towards fulfilling the agreement that Sabah and Sarawak will make up one-third of Parliament seats.

Meanwhile, in the Sarawak premier's speech prior to the prime minister's, Abang Johari thanked Anwar for the increase in special payments and commitment to fulfil both the seat allocations and revenue-sharing obligations as per MA63.

He also said that Sarawak is advancing thanks to the strong partnership between GPS and the federal government. - Mkini