By Simon Peter
KUCHING, July 22, 2014: Opposition
leader Anwar Ibrahim has announced a 7-point plan for Sarawak and Sabah for implementation when
Pakatan Rakyat comes to power at the federal level and in line with the true
concept of federalism.
Anwar (picture): The plan in line with true concept of federalism
"I believe the people of Sarawak
(and Sabah) deserve more," he said
at the 51st anniversary of Sarawak's Independence Day here today.
The plan includes treating Sarawak and
Sabah as special states that are equal partners to Malaya.
Anwar said the 7-point plan, in line
with the true concept of federalism, is proposed:
Point 1
1. In recognition of the spirit of the
federal compact signed in 1963 known as the Malaysia Agreement, to:
a.
Recognise – in the Federal Constitution,
text books and official discourses – Sabah and Sarawak as special states that
are equal partners to the Peninsula of Malaysia within the Federation of
Malaysia; and
b.
Recognise three National Days: August 31
as the Merdeka Day for Malaya and Sabah, July 22 as the Independence Day for
Sarawak and September 16 as Malaysia Day – with national celebrations for
August 31 and September 16.
Point 2
2. In the spirit of true federalism that
values unity in diversity while preserving a cohesive nation, to:
a.
Uphold Bahasa Malaysia as the national
language unifying all Malaysians regardless of faiths, ethnicity or
mother-tongue;
b.
Protect the freedom of expression and
information in all languages, as enshrined in the Federal Constitution,
including the use of Allah in the Malay and Iban-language Bibles and other
publications; and
c.
Establish a television channel for
Borneo
Point 3
3. In full recognition of the injustice
in the marginalization and poverty suffered by Sarawak and Sabah despite their
rich resources, as a result of corruption, nepotism and cronyism by both the
Federal and State Governments, bring about the following economic reforms and
developments when Pakatan Rakyat forms the new federal and state governments:
a. Federal-state sharing of petroleum
wealth and power in Petronas, with
i.
a director each from Sarawak, Sabah and
all other petroleum-producing states on Petronas’ Board;
ii.
the establishment of state-owned
second-tiered Oil and Gas company as Petronas’ partners; and
iii.
20% royalty for those states;
b. The abolition of cabotage policy to
eliminate the artificial price disparity that burdens the people of Sarawak and
Sabah;
c. The construction of a Pan-Borneo
highway of comparable quality to those highways in Peninsular Malaysia
d. The supply of electricity and tap
water to 90% of households in Sarawak and Sabah
Point 4
4. To correct and prevent the illegal
naturalization and enfranchisement of foreigners and the failure in
safeguarding the border of Sabah, establish permanent joint Federal-State
Commissions in Sarawak and Sabah answerable to both the Federal Parliament and
the respective State Assemblies in order to oversee:
a.
The naturalization of foreigners in
Sarawak and Sabah;
b.
The trans-migration of other Malaysians
into Sabah and Sarawak; and
c.
Border and coastline security in both
states
Point 5
To ensure protection of the native
communities and environment:
a.
Establish State Land Commissions in
Sarawak and Sabah, with institutionalized representation from the native
communities and answerable to the respective State Assemblies, to administer
land especially Native Customary Rights (NCR) lands, undertake surveys,
investigate and resolve land disputes; and
b.
Establish elected third-tiered
governments at city and division level, with the boundaries of rural divisions
taking into account socio-cultural boundaries of native communities where
possible, to facilitate participatory decision-making and indigenous autonomy.
Point 6
Guided by the spirit of the 1963
Malaysia Agreement, support human resource development in Sarawak and Sabah,
with no discrimination on the ground of religion, through:
a.
Borneonisation of the state public
service in Sarawak and Sabah with transparent and meritocratic recruitment and
promotion;
b.
Recruitment of more Borneans into the
Administrative and Diplomatic Services and appointment of more Borneans as
Ambassadors and High Commissioners; and
c.
Both scholarships for both Bornean
students in general and Bornean native
students in particular with no discrimination on the ground of ethnicity and
religion
Point 7
7. Establish a Royal Commission of
Inquiry to commence a study on the health of federalism in Malaysia within the
first year of the new Federal Government and complete it within 3 years, to
reform and rejuvenate our federal system before GE15 to better serve the nation
and all the states and territories.
Anwar stressed that a federation of states
is only as strong as the sum of its parts.
"The call for real federalism and
greater devolution of powers is intended to strengthen these parts and that in
turn will strengthen the entire federation. This will augur well for the future
of Malaysia," he explained.
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