KOTA KINABALU – Barisan Nasional’s (BN) “carrot” of a deputy prime minister post for Sabah or Sarawak is a hollow gesture that will only benefit a few political elites, said DAP’s Kota Kinabalu incumbent Chan Foong Hin.
Chan, who is also a member of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) manifesto committee, said the opposition coalition offers a more holistic proposal to empower Sabah and Sarawak.
“With the appointment of a deputy prime minister from either Sabah and Sarawak, a national administrative coordination council will be formed to bridge the development gap between Sabah, Sarawak, and Peninsular Malaysia.
“The appointed deputy prime minister will be empowered to oversee the operations of the council, which will deliberate on matters relating to developmental budget allocation across the three regions,” he said in a Sabah PH press conference here today.
Chan said the role of the deputy prime minister includes authority to look at federal-funded projects in East Malaysia and cut down the incidence of abandoned projects.
He added that the role will be unlike the duties of the Sabah and Sarawak affairs minister, which was not empowered to look into these matters.
“The deputy prime minister’s oversight on developmental projects in East Malaysia will increase their urgency and ensure delivery within the stipulated timeline.”
Chan said this in reference to caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who said he wants to win the federal election first before naming candidates for deputy prime minister.
Ismail Sabri said this after BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi asked Sabah BN chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin to ask the prime minister to appoint three deputy prime ministers, with two coming from Sabah and Sarawak.
PH has a similar offer as part of its manifesto, but instead of three, the coalition will offer two posts – one from the peninsula, and the other either from Sabah or Sarawak.
Chan said that PH’s proposed deputy prime minister from East Malaysia includes safeguarding the state rights, adding that duties involve continuing to protect and restore Sabah and Sarawak rights as under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
He added that the PH manifesto includes a RM1 billion allocation in 2023 in the form of grants and tax incentives to manufacturing sectors in Sabah and Sarawak.
He said PH plans to implement all the recommendations in the inter-governmental report, and ensure that MA63 and all 12 documents related to the founding of Malaysia are respected and all their conflicts are resolved according to how they were originally intended.
Chan said the PH federal government will also restore the power to appoint judicial commissioners of the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak to the governor (Yang di-Pertua Negeri) of both regions.
He added that the PH government will also ensure Sabah and Sarawak get 35% representation in Parliament, and receive more autonomy for education and health matters.
PH will also implement 40% revenue sharing for Sabah as intended under Article 112C, Section 2 (1) Part IV of the 10th Schedule of the federal constitution, and the five-year mandatory reviews as intended under Article 112D, Section 3 of the constitution.
Chan said that priority would be given to safeguarding the rights of Sabah and Sarawak natives and indigenous people, as enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including matters of native customary rights and the establishment of a land tribunal to handle any disputes.
He said PH will also gazette a designated free trade zone area in Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park, POIC Lahad Datu, and Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park.
While the state coalition is still in talks with Muda over seats, state DAP secretary Phoong Jin Zhe said, DAP will contest seven seats in Sabah.
Upko meanwhile will contest five seats – Penampang, Tuaran, Libaran, Beluran, and Kimanis.
Of the seven seats, Phoong confirmed that all the three Sabah DAP incumbents will defend their seats – Kota Kinabalu, Tenom, and Sandakan.
However, he did not name the candidates and constituencies for the remaining four seats. He also refused to confirm rumours whether the party would swap seats with other PH components.
There has been speculation that DAP will swap seats with PKR in Tawau and Kota Kinabalu, with the Tawau seat going to DAP and PKR’s incumbent Tawau MP Datuk Christina Liew heading to Kota Kinabalu.
Liew is also Kota Kinabalu PKR chief.
Also present at the press conference today were Upko president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau, Upko vice-president Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau, and Sabah Amanah chief Rosley Wasli.
On another note, Wilfred announced the Jelajah Harapan gathering in Tuaran on October 31, adding that the event will be attended by PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, and DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke. – The Vibes, October 26, 2022
