MIRI – Local opposition newbie Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) has challenged Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), the coalition presently ruling the state, to explain why it remained silent when Putrajaya reduced the state’s territorial sea rights.
PSB vice-president Datuk Lawrence Lai today said GPS is often bullied by its “Malayan” partners.
He alleged that the federal government had brought about a reduction in marine rights from 200 nautical miles from Sarawak’s coastline to only three nautical miles.
Lai, who is the PSB candidate for Miri, said that the party found a severe reduction in territorial rights over the past few years.
“In the past, Sarawak’s territorial sea rights covered 200 nautical miles of the South China Sea from the state’s coastline.
“Under GPS, the territory shrunk to only three nautical miles,” he alleged. “The fishermen’s community has confirmed this with us in PSB.
“They complained to us that the deep seas off Sarawak have been taken over by Malaya-registered fishing vessels.
“When we checked into this, we found that our state no longer controls 200 nautical miles but only three nautical miles.
“The rest has been taken over by the federal government, but GPS has remained silent,” Lai told reporters here today while on his rounds to meet and greet voters here today.
He said PSB is angry that GPS has failed to stand up to their partners from the peninsula.
Lai is facing Sarawak United People’s Party’s Jeffery Phang contesting under GPS’ banner, and PKR’s Chiew Choon Man. – The Vibes, November 10, 2022
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