KUCHING: The year of 2019 will be a difficult year politically and economically. Political observer and veteran of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Datuk Peter Minos (pic)said current indications signal of tough times ahead.
“In Sarawak, with the launching of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in January 2019, Sarawakians will be asked to ponder and answer whether they will want to be ruled by fellow Sarawak leaders come the election in 2021 or by Malayan leaders and their local surrogates.
“For the majority in Sarawak, the answer is clear but for some they have to make up their mind. There is no such thing as having one leg in Sarawak another in Malaya,” he said, adding, “it ought to be and should be both legs for Sarawak,” he said in a press statement yesterday.
He said so long as Sarawak’s powers under MA63 are not returned and so long as Kuala Lumpur and Petronas do not give any extra ringgit to Sarawak from Sarawak’s own oil and gas, Sarawakians have real reasons to be really concerned and be wary and doubtful of Kuala Lumpur and the Malayans.
“Of their sincerity and of their sense of fairness to Sarawak, and of their intentions in their pledges and promises, 2019 will therefore be the year when Sarawakians must start to seriously think of their political future because by 2021 they will have to make a momentous decision.
“And based on that decision, Sarawak will go this or that way, up or down, right or wrong,” he said.
He said 2019 will also see the state government starting to use its 2019 budget allocation.
He said while this is a good thing for GPS it will be hard work implementing approved major projects.
“Hopefully the implementers and the bureaucrats will get things done expeditiously and do away with excessive red tape or we will get punished by the people we are supposed to serve,” he pointed out.
Minos said politics at the national level looks to be worsening in the months ahead because commodities prices are not getting any better.
“Already so in all the works and operations of the international market. Not of our own doing but this is an alarm bell.
“Our national income is declining for real. This will not be good news or sweet music to all Malaysians.
“For the federal government facing huge payments created by Najib-era debts and liabilities, life is going to be tough given the reduced national income in 2019.
“For 2019, economic juggling and adjustments have to be made, by both the government and individuals.
“If GPS handles the situation well, I believe Sarawakians will press ahead with the current state leadership,” he said.
