Kuching, Aug 24, 2012: Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian said today he is curious why Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud wanted to discuss the oil royalty for Sarawak with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in private.
“I am curious that Taib should think royalty negotiations are better done in private. Why is that so? The oil and gas in Sarawak is not the property of the chief minister as it belongs to all the people of Sarawak, hence we have a right to know what is being discussed,” Baru said at a press conference.
He said that a proposal to increase oil royalty payments for Sarawak is most pertinent at the moment.
“We in Pakatan Rakyat have calling for the government to review and increase the royalty from 5 % to 20 %. This is one of the issues we have put up in our election manifesto,” he said.
Baru, flanked by Sarawak PKR secretary Stanny Embat (left) and National Wanita vice head Voon Shiak Ni, at the press conference.
Nevertheless, he welcomed the announcement by Taib who stated that the royalty should be increased.
“But why is it only now that the chief minister is agreeing to pursue the matter? One can’t help but think that it is because this is an issue very close to the hearts of the people, an issue which Pakatan Rakyat has promised to address.
“Obviously there has been no political will on the BN government’s part over the last 30 or so years to seek a fairer share of the royalty until now when they are realizing there is a real possibility that the rakyat will vote them out in the coming elections,” he said.
He said that Sarawak has been lagging behind Peninsular Malaysia in every aspect “you care to name”, be it roads and infrastructure, education, healthcare, jobs, transportation, industry and development.
“One could say that Peninsular Malaysia and many individuals have prospered or benefitted via Petronas at our expense.
“Sarawakians now say ‘Kini masa balas budi’ to quote a line from the infamous BN Merdeka theme song 2012.
“We want to know what the Chief Minister intends to do about it, and we remind him that he is a servant of the people and is accountable to them.
“The former PM, in a Freudian slip, had referred to the current administration as the ‘devil’ and the opposition as the ‘angel’. That in itself says it all,” Baru said.
“I trust that the rakyat are astute enough to judge for themselves whether to choose more of the same or to give themselves the hope of a better and brighter future with the Pakatan Rakyat,” he added. By Sematong Express
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