The special cabinet committee on MA63 is formed basically to facilitate the return of the rights of Sabah and Sarawak – rights that have been systematically taken from them by the federal government since Sept 16 1963.
But so many Sarawakians are skeptical about the special cabinet committee on MA63 because to them Putrajaya doesn’t need such a committee to return whatever rights that belong to the two states.
What Putrajaya needs most is political will. And political will means political solution, not a committee that pretends to solve something but create hurdles after hurdles and then tell us “we need more time to study the issues”.
That’s why to many Sarawakians, the committee is just a convenient feet-dragging tactic by Putrajaya.
“The committee will meet every two months once and was given six months from the date of the meeting to table the final report,” said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong after the committee’s first meeting last Dec 17.
Now, let’s look at that closely.
For me, I take that to mean the committee will submit a final report at the end of the six-month period from the date of its first meeting on Dec 17.
That means on June 16 skeptical Sarawakians like me should know if they should remain skeptical or not.
In other words, the report better be good and should not exploit the every-two-month meeting when the committee is allowed to lay its egg.
The report better have something substantial and not designed to be just another excuse to sit down every two months until kingdom come – and the egg is still not hatched.
Now, let’s look at what actually transpired at the Dec 17 meeting.
Liew did not reveal much about that meeting but Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari did on Feb 15 during a Berambeh Ngopi Ngan CM Abg Jo (literally: Coffee session with CM Abg Jo).
For those Sarawakians who have been critical of the GPS state government, and critical of the leadership of the chief minister, but singing praises of their Malayan masters, know that Abang Johari has strongly presented Sarawak’s case to the committee.
The chief minister has made it clear that whatever the outcome after the six-month period must be based on his representation.
He told the meeting that there are issues that can be negotiated and there are four that cannot be negotiated because they are the exclusive rights of Sarawak as provided for in the Constitution.
These four are immigration autonomy, land resource, boundaries which include the continental shelf, and products of the land.
He said Sarawak will not compromise on these four issues and will make sure these four exclusive rights remain with the state (and in the hands of Sarawakians).
In the bracket is what I say because I want to emphasise that when I say Sarawakians, I mean Sarawakians who are no puppets of their Malayan masters.
We have had enough of being puppets of Malayans in the past which was why we never had the freedom to say what we are saying now.
Now, if the committee must touch on any of the four subject matters, it must be with a view to enhancing our rights in those matters, not to curtail those rights.
The chief minister was specific as to what can be discussed by the committee.
“Three issues we can discuss are education, health and our rights to financial contributions from the central government.”
Interestingly, when he spoke of the central government’s financial obligation, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng interjected, saying Sarawak should not impose the 5 per cent sales tax on exported petroleum products because it would increase the cost shouldered by O&G investors.
Addressing the chair, the chief minister was only short of saying he did not pick the 5 per cent from thin air but had taken the country’s economy into consideration.
Besides, he said the state constitution says that he can impose the tax up to any percentage because there is no ceiling as to how many per cent is imposable.
“I can impose 10 per cent, 15 per cent, even 20 per cent, but I decided on 5 per cent after taking into consideration the nation’s economy,” Abang Johari said.
He further said, “But if you (MOF) think that the tax is too high, you should bring down your federal petroleum income tax of 38 per cent.
“Bring down your rate. Why should I sacrifice Sarawak for the central government? Why must Sarawak sacrifice its 5 per cent and let the federal government enjoy 38 per cent?
“If the federal government is concerned about tax being too high, bring yours down by 5per cent, you still have 33 per cent?”
Indeed, we Sarawakians are not stupid. Our leaders in GPS are not stupid. They are surely not stupid just because they fight to safeguard our rights.
The stupid ones are those who think outsiders are their political saviours who will make them chief minister, put them in high positions in the civil service, and give them titles to every inch of land they claim as theirs.
I do strongly believe GPS is our only way forward in safeguarding our rights as enshrined in MA63.
GPS is our last bastion against intrusion by those out to rob us of our natural resources, our unique culture and heritage.
Listen to the Berambeh Ngopi Ngan CM Abg Jo on YouTube, it’s the basis to our present struggle as Sarawakians.
