Dr Sim says Sarawak constitution amendment bill places Penang chief minister's post into second class

 KUCHING, February 15, 2022 - Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian believed that the DAP Sarawak is very worried about the passage of the Sarawak Constitution (Amendment) Bill because it places the premier’s post of Sarawak higher than the post of Penang chief minister.

Picture: Datuk Sri Dr Sim (wearing bluish coat) speaking to reporters.

“I think the DAP is very worried. You know why? Because in Sarawak, the chief minister has changed the title to become premier so that is why they are worried because the DAP Penang cannot change the title to become premier,” Dr Sim told reporters on the sidelines of the State Assembly sitting.

“So they are second class already. That is why they (DAP state assemblymen) opposed the designation of the title so hard and using all sorts of excuses,” he said.

He said having the right name is not just about the status, it  is the beginning of the subsequent assertion to further reclaim Sarawak’s rights and autonomy.

“Just now (during the debate), the GPS YBs were talking about Sarawak Parliament and all these are coming as our rights, privileges and autonomy,” he added.

Dr Sim, who is also the Public Health, Local Government and Housing, said this shows that Sarawak has political independence.

He said GPS supports the federal government for political stability in the country and, in turn, whoever forms the federal government must also supports Sarawak to reclaim its rights.

“These are two conditions that the GPS imposes.” he said.

Dr Sim said Sarawak is “very lucky” because the PH federal government came to a premature end after 22 months in power after winning the 2018 general election.

“Otherwise, we will not be able to get our sales and service tax (SST) revenue on the export of petroleum products,” he said, recalling that the PH federal government even brought the Sarawak government to court over the imposition of the SST.

He said the DAP Sarawak and PKR Sarawak representatives in the federal government dared not opposed when the then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad asked Petronas to sue the Sarawak government.