KOTA KINABALU – The opposition says the Sabah state assembly speaker has rejected its bid to nullify the Petroleum Agreement 1976 ahead of the upcoming sitting between tomorrow (July 18) and July 21.
DAP Sabah secretary Phoong Jin Zhe claims the agreement was among debates and discussions being made “limited” by the speaker’s office.
He told The Vibes that other pertinent matters that would unlikely be tabled during the sitting include claims by heirs of the former Sulu kingdom, prices hikes, and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Phoong – who is also Luyang assemblyman – said the three motions, as well as the petroleum agreement, were filed by the opposition alliance last week, but was already rejected before the sitting.
He noted another two motions – making English Sabah’s second official language, and the proposed establishment of the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) to look into MA63 – were rejected as well.
“We were informed that the motion to revoke the oil agreement came a little too late and therefore, they (speaker’s office) were not able to include it in tomorrow’s sitting,” Phoong told The Vibes.
However, Phoong said the four-day assembly sitting could also see the formation of a bipartisan select committee to address the issue of irregular migrants in the state.
Sabah signed the agreement with national oil and gas company Petronas on June 14, 1976, while the state was under the Berjaya-led government.
The petroleum deal has long been a bone of contention for the state, which only receives 5% in royalties from the fossil fuel extracted from its shores.
As for elevating English, Phoong said the speaker’s office said the language was already an accepted language in the court and state assembly.
Pointing to Sarawak’s policies on English as an example, Phoong said he believed the rejection of the motions had merely pandered to Putrajaya.
“Sarawak is realising their own autonomy and is truer to the spirit of MA63. But I could not say the same for Sabah, which is too friendly to the federal government,” he said.
“In addition, Sarawak is moving towards a digital economy and a secular economy, where many English terms cannot be translated into the national language.”
Phoong also noted the bid to re-establish the IGC to focus on MA63 was not meant to undermine the efforts of the present government.
Instead, he maintained that it was aimed at keeping talks on MA63 ongoing.
Meanwhile, Warisan deputy president and Moyog assemblyman Datuk Darell Leiking, said he is seeking the state government’s explanation on measures to reduce the rising cost of living.
He also suggested discounts on electricity tariffs for businesses and food operators to mitigate price hikes and to keep the cost of goods and foods stable in the local market.
Leiking also said the government should find the solution to lower unemployment rates in Sabah, which currently stands at 9%, or close to 200,000 people – the highest in the country.
Aside from soaring unemployment rates, Sabah is experiencing higher prices for essential goods such as chicken, palm oil, cooking oil, and eggs, among others.
In another development, the assembly is also expected to announce or name the members of the bipartisan select committee to address the irregular migrant issue in Sabah.
Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor had previously agreed to Parti Bersatu Sabah’s proposal to form the committee, which would complement Sabah deputy chief minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan’s efforts in dealing with the inland migrant problems. – The Vibes, July 17, 2022
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