KUCHING: Parti Sarawak Bersatu’s (PSB) insistence in blaming Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) for Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) failure to wrest control of the premiership sounds like a broken record, says Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman.
“To revisit the issue by playing politics amid this turbulent time in the nation’s history is tantamount to disrespecting the decree of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who decreed that the people should not be burdened with endless political turmoil at a time when the country is struggling with the current health and economic issues,” the Tupong assemblyman said on Tuesday (Aug 24).
Contrary to PSB president Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh’s claims, Fazzrudin said Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal was not named as the sole PH prime minister candidate and even withdrew from the race.
“The stand taken by GPS is a rather practical one — it will continue to work with those who are able to deliver in the interest of Sarawakians. Perikatan Nasional (PN) did but unfortunately, PH did not.
“This is in terms of payment of State Sales Tax owed by Petroliam Nasional Berhad to the state government, where the additional income was used to fund development projects to benefit the masses.
“At the same time, Sarawak through its discussions with the PN federal government was able to have a greater participation in the state’s oil and gas industry.
“In addition, the PN administration has been courteous to Sarawak and understood the needs of the state, extending its help whenever necessary.”
He said this was in contrast with how Sarawak was treated under PH where infrastructure projects were cancelled, schoolchildren were held to ransom over due to reluctance to fund school repairs and Sarawak’s rights were encroached by the establishment of the Federal Village Community Management Council.
“All these did not happen after the PH federal government collapsed and Sarawakians, to their relief, did not experience such injustices and discrimination under PN.”
Fazzrudin also pointed out that it was puzzling why PSB wanted the parties who had ill-treated Sarawakians to return to power.
“The facts speak for itself, PH never cared for Sarawak nor its rights. It never has and most probably never will.”
