KUCHING: After 55 years of hanging on to the coattails of the powers that be in Malaya, the state is now free to steer itself after four Sarawak-based parties formed GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak, having realized that there is great power in unity.
Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, said the component parties – Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), SUPP, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) – have a common mission of taking care of Sarawak without having to wait for approval from Malaya all the time.
“The parties in Malaya don’t always have Sarawak’s interests at heart. Their top priority is always their own welfare and well-being. Likewise, we know what we want. The four local parties definitely know what is best for Sarawak,” he said.
He said after 55 years, the state has had enough and cannot continue to be docile and “tengok saja” (watch only).
“No more! Enough!” he said passionately in his speech during the launch of GPS at Stadium Perpaduan, Petra Jaya, last night.
He said the negotiations on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) present the voices of Sarawak, not just the voices of the leaders.
“I hope the federal government would seriously respect the Sarawak people’s wishes. We have been hearing many voices including those asking for a referendum on the matter,” he said.
On the state’s oil and gas, he stressed that they are not for Malaya to take at will.
“That’s why we are very grateful that last November, our Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg imposed five percent sales tax on exported oil, oil products and gas,” he said.
“This is because we need to look out for ourselves. Sarawakians need to look after Sarawak. Our destiny is in our own hands.”
He said with revenue from the tax, the state could build roads, bridges, water and power supplies, and better facilities such as schools.
“We must take chances because we don’t want to beg any more from the federal government,” he said.
“This could be our last chance to defend Sarawak rights and from today onwards we must move on for a better Sarawak,” he said.
