KUALA LUMPUR – Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) manifesto for the 15th general election (GE15) includes several promises for the Bornean communities, including vows to decentralise power for the Sabah and Sarawak states.
This also includes one deputy prime minister representing Sabah and Sarawak, in addition to a peninsular deputy prime minister.
The coalition aims to strengthen the two state governments’ role in education and health sectors by amending the Ninth Schedule of the federal constitution to the existing list, according to the manifesto which was launched today.
If it forms the federal government, PH says it will also upgrade dilapidated schools, ensure the consistent expansion of the teaching and learning of ethnic languages, establish law faculties in public universities in these states, and improve health laboratory facilities.
“(PH will) strengthen the grassroots institutions of the Village Community Management Council through the democratisation process and direct allocation channels from the federal government,” the manifesto added.
The manifesto also vowed to implement the return of 40% of Sabah’s regional revenue based on the original formula of Article 112C and Subsection 2(1) Part 4 of the Tenth Schedule in the federal constitution.
A review of the percentage must also be made for Sarawak every five years, the document added.
PH will also return to the East Malaysian states the power for their governors to appoint judicial commissioners of the Sabah and Sarawak high courts, as stated in the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) report, which is part of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
PH will also uphold the IGC report’s call for 33% of Parliament representatives from Borneo states.
“(PH will ensure) that the MA63 and all 12 documents, especially the IGC, are respected and that any matter that has conflicted with the original intention of the agreement will be implemented as intended.”
Asserting that the development of East Malaysia is still far behind that of the peninsula, the manifesto said that the gap will be bridged by talent development and increased access to healthcare.
As such, the National Administrative Coordination Council involving agencies that operate autonomously for the regions of Sabah, Sarawak and the peninsula will be established, with one deputy prime minister from the Borneo states to be elected to facilitate the councils’ administration.
PH also pledged to build two new public higher education institutes in Sabah and Sarawak while reinforcing the integration of Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
The manifesto acknowledged that there are four main categories in the foreigners influx issue in Sabah, namely dubious identity card holders, Philippine war refugees, stateless people and irregular migrants.
“(PH) considers it necessary to establish a special task force involving related agencies to find a more comprehensive solution relevant to their respective responsibilities,” it said.
Additionally, the coalition also plans to upgrade the POIC Lahad Datu port and the Sepanggar port, as well as to build a Kudat port to increase job opportunities for the people of Sabah and Sarawak.
“Free Trade Zones in Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park, POIC Lahad Datu and Sipitang Oil & Gas Industrial Park will be gazetted,” it said.
“The main airports will be equipped with cold storage facilities, aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities and an aerospace industrial park.” – The Vibes, November 2, 2022
