Give back those powers, Adenan tells Najib

By Doris Yoong

KUCHING, June 4, 2015  - Chief Minister Adenan Satem is asking the federal government to surrender back those powers which Sarawak had given away since the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

"We want our autonomy back," he said, adding that he had discussed with Prime Minister Najib Razak over breakfast before they left to attend a public  gathering in support of  Najib at the Unity Stadium in Petrajaya this morning.

"We want those powers back otherwise, there is little meaning to our request for autonomy," the chief minister told Najib at the gathering.

Adenan did not identify the powers that he wanted to surrender back, but said the state and federal leaders are actively discussing over the matters.

"We are in the process of identifying the powers that can be surrendered back to Sarawak," he said.

It is believed that Adenan wants education back to Sarawak which was given to the federal government when the late Rahman Yaakub was chief minister in 1976.

State Barisan Nasional and the Opposition parties are unhappy with the slow progress made by the Education Ministry in building schools, especially in rural areas.

Many rural school buildings are in need of repairs urgently.

They also want the re-introduction of  English language as the medium of instruction in school which was stopped when Rahman Yaakub was the Education Minister in the 1960s.

Sarawak is unhappy with the federal Public Works Department which handles federal-funded projects, which can be easily done by the State JKR.

On the oil and gas royalties, Adenan said he would continue to "whisper" to Najib to increase the royalties from the present  5 per cent to 20 per cent.

"With more funds available, we can develop rural areas which far lagging behind the urban centres," he said.

While asking for greater autonomy for Sarawak,   Adenan said the State Barisan Nasional will continue to throw its support behind Najib is facing severe criticisms from Umno members, including former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, and Opposition, over his handling of many controversial issues.

"We are behind you all the way. We are behind you when you are tall. We are with you when you are down. We will support you through thick and thin, all the way," he told Najib.

He said the Sarawak BN supports Najib because he is a genuine friend of Sarawak.

"No previous prime ministers had ever done so much to Sarawak, except Najib," he said, adding since becoming prime minister five years ago, Najib had allocated  funds to the state more than the combined allocations given by the previous prime ministers.

"Though  he (Mahathir Mohamad) was the prime minister for 22 years, his contribution, in term of funds, was negligible compared to what Najib has contributed," he said.

"He didn't bother much about us. Najib has a soft spot for Sarawak, and we have a soft for him," he said.

He said Sarawak supports Najib not because he is prime minister, but it is the right thing to do.

"We,  Sarawakians, know who are our genuine friends and who are full of actions," he said.

He said Najib is not an actor, like P. Ramlee, but  a leader who is sincere.

He urged Sarawakians to support Najib in his hour of needs.

"He is being  beseeched left and right by ungrateful people in Peninsular Malaysia.

"There are some people in  Umno who do not know how to be grateful, but know how to backstab only," Adenan said.

"But we, in Sarawak, are not like that. If we don't, we say so," he said.

PBB Youth leader Fadillah Yusof led the reading of pledge of support to Najib.

Leaders of the state Barisan Nasional component parties were among those present at the stadium.