KUCHING: The birth of Gabungan Parti Sarawak or GPS on June 12 last year and its official launch on Saturday have created a new political landscape in Sarawak.
Most importantly, it is a new platform for the state government to have a stronger and louder voice to fight for the state’s rights and interest
With “Sarawak First” as one of its main thrusts, GPS will set Sarawak on the right path to a better tomorrow.
In an exclusive interview with The New Sarawak Tribune recently, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg says GPS, which is not directly linked to the federal government, will be in a better position to chart Sarawak’s destiny.
He says previously when the state coalition was directly linked to the ruling federal coalition, it had to endure many disadvantages, especially on policies related to Sarawak.
“Whatever suggestions or proposals we have for Sarawak would have to get prior endorsement from our coalition partners. On the other hand, if there are decisions made by Kuala Lumpur, we have no choice but to abide by it.
“This is where over the years, 55 years to be exact, there are areas of concern or rights that have been eroded based on the spirit of consensus, either knowingly or unknowingly,” he adds.
Excerpts of the interview:
Q: What was on your mind when you first decided to leave BN and start GPS? What was the feeling of your colleagues in the former BN component parties in Sarawak?
A: First of all, as you know there was a change of government after the last general elections. And my colleagues and I in GPS were thinking, looking back at our experience when we were in BN and based on our experience in BN, we found out that there is something not right in that particular arrangement.
So, when there was a change of government, it was the best opportunity for us to correct and position ourselves on the right patch, in terms of how you govern a federation.
As you know, in a federation it means that there are powers under the state and there are powers under the federal government and there are also shared powers between federal and state.
Ever since Malaysia was formed in 1963, we have been governing Sarawak based on a coalition with the federal government, initially Sarawak Alliance 1963 and eventually, in 1970, Barisan Nasional came in.
In that arrangement, based on our experience, we feel that there is something which seems to be difficult in terms of exercising what we want to do for Sarawak.
No. 1, the coalition is based on consensus and therefore, whatever suggestion or thing we want to do for Sarawak we have to get endorsement from the whole coalition in Putrajaya.
No. 2, if there are decisions made by KL, we also have to abide by them based on consensus.
We felt that we are at a disadvantage.
When there was a change of government in the whole federation and based on that particular experience (which we had while we were still in BN), we felt that it’s now an opportune time for us to be independent and the decision is among all the four component parties.
We left BN but we remain friendly with the federal government. This is because there are areas where we can collaborate but we have our own independent ideas of governing Sarawak within the context of the federation.
As you know, in the last state election in 2016, we won under the leadership of the late Chief Minister Tok Nan (Pehin Sri Adenan Satem)…we were talking about taking back our eroded rights. We want to participate in the economy of Sarawak, based on our own natural resources such as oil and gas.
Having said that, it is the duty of the then state government, led by the late Tok Nan and now by myself, that we continue with what have been promised in our election manifesto.
Meaning, No. 1 we will pursue our negotiations to get our eroded rights back, No. 2, we want to participate actively in the development of upstream and downstream of oil and gas, and No. 3, we can develop our own state faster within our own Sarawak mould.
That’s the reason why my colleagues and I left BN and formed GPS. This is historical because this is the first time that Sarawak based parties are united and at the same time, we are not directly linked to the federal government.
Meaning we have that independent outlook within the context of the federation.
It does not mean that when we are in Malaysia, we cannot have our own policies. We still have our own domestic policies where Sarawak’s interests are given priority. That’s why in GPS we have “Sarawak First”. The interest of Sarawak must be pursued first.
Q: Before the 14th general election, were there any suggestion that we demand more autonomy? Is it because BN lost at the federal level that we decided to pull out (of BN)? Had BN won, would we still be vehement in our decision?
A: Sarawak’s demand for the return of its eroded rights has been there all along, way before the last 14th general election. That’s why we have a technical committee co-chaired by Datuk Hanifah Taib and Datuk Nancy Shukri to study Sarawak’s power of devolution. And it was done and now already in the process.
Then came the 14th general election. Nevertheless, Sarawak BN won. We got 19 seats.
I think what is happening is when the federal government changed, we thought it was the right time to leave (BN).
Had BN won (at federal level) we will still pursue MA63 to get our eroded rights back, because it has started. Now, we are actually going into the second stage.
We are now going into the Constitution, initially it was only an administrative evolution. We are going into the second stage which involves our Constitution. The Prime Minister acknowledged this, hence the formation of the steering committee on the MA63 negotiation. Meaning, whether we win or ose (the last state election) we still pursue the MA63.
Q: How is the relationship between the state and federal government now?
A: For now, we have good relationship with the federal government. For the last seven months or so, the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led federal government had been sending several ministers to Sarawak to discuss various matters including rural development, agriculture, commodity, human resource and medical. Meaning, there are engagements between federal and state governments and this must go on.
Q: Datuk Patinggi, the state government’s decision to impose sales tax on petroleum products has received differing opinions from PH ministers. What’s your opinion on this?
A: As far as Sarawak is concerned, the answer to this is very simple. There are four main items in our Constitution that are untouchable and cannot be reviewed. They are our rights over land matters, state’s boundary, immigration autonomy and mining.
Sarawak also has rights to regulate oil and gas.
Coincidentally, the oil and gas are found on our land and in accordance with the Oil Mining Ordinance (OMO), we have rights over sales tax. Therefore, GPS decided to impose sales tax on petroleum products which can give additional revenue to the state.
There is no objection from the federal government to the imposition of the sales tax. They acknowledged it but it’s a matter of implementation.
Petronas (Petroliam Nasional Berhad) is citing the Petroleum Development Act (PDA), 1974 while we are using OMO, 1958 which was formulated before the formation of Malaysia and is still valid and was never repealed by PDA, 1974.
Under the existing provision of the OMO 1958, the granting of rights and privileges is made through the granting of separate oil exploration licence, oil prospecting licence and oil mining lease.
GPS is only protecting what has been agreed upon in the MA63 and Federal Constitution.
Q: Why must Sarawakians support GPS?
A: The people must realise that GPS is the best platform to protect their rights and interest; to develop Sarawak and improve the people’s livelihood.
If our economy is good, political climate is stable and we have the additional revenue for the state, the people will certainly have better standard of living.
Scandinavia and Sweden also have small populations of about five million people but they have strong economies, not at all affected by happenings in the European Union.
Apart from having the economic power, both countries also have very talented and technology-savvy populace and their talented people are working abroad.
That’s why we in GPS are keen on developing a modern economy based on digital technology. We want more of our children to be trained in the digital and technological fields.
This is the modern way. Digital economy is transcending political boundary and can be influenced by our economic ecosystem.
Q: What’s your hope for members of GPS component parties?
A: I sincerely hope that every member of GPS will all move with one voice, one rhythm and one boat.
We have to paddle together. We all have agreed to take this path and if we all can move in one direction, Sarawak will certainly have a bright future as we are not directly linked to the federal government.
We will stand firm by our “Sarawak First” policy. We’ll give due priority to Sarawak and the future of Sarawakians.
We are not fighting to be the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Let others scramble to be the PM. Our only concern is to strengthen our beloved state and make it a better place for all of us.
