KUCHING: The Sarawak Patriot Association (SPA) is holding the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government accountable for their GE14 campaign manifesto under Promise 41 which is their promise to ensure the prosperity of the people of Sabah and Sarawak by enhancing the states’ economic growth.
In a press statement issued here yesterday, the Chairman of SPA Datuk Lau Pang Heng said, “Under the second paragraph of Promise 41, it was stated that the Federal government will increase petroleum royalty to Sabah and Sarawak to 20 per cent or equivalent, as a first step in distributing petroleum revenue equitably.
“This will enable Sabah and Sarawak to take over responsibilities for more development expenditure.”
Lau also expressed his disappointment upon learning that during the recent sitting of the Malaysian Parliament, the Minister of Economic Affairs, Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali had said that the 20 per cent oil royalty would be based on the nett profit and not the gross production.
He added that if the PH government was being sincere in its practice of transparency and accountability, they should fulfil their election pledge to the people of Sarawak by giving Sarawak the 20 per cent oil royalty based on production as this was what Sarawakians have been expecting.
“We strongly urge all the Sarawak Members of Parliament especially those from PH to stand up and be united in ensuring that the PH government fulfil its Promise No. 41 which is to increase oil royalty to 20 per cent which should be based on production,” said Lau.
He also believed that Sarawakians were not against the sharing of its resources and have been doing so without any complaints for the past 42 years.
“Therefore, we hope that the Federal government will consult and work together with our State government before making any final decision on the increased oil royalty in view of the interest of Sarawakians. It must be reminded that without the participation of Sarawak and Sabah in 1963, Malaysia would not be formed,” concluded Lau.
