At the Sarawak State Assembly sitting today, Bawang Assan State Assemblyman Datuk Sri Wong Soon Koh said he will support the Sarawak Constitution (Amendment)Bill if it is good for Sarawak and the people of Sarawak, regardless of the political affiliations.
“If amendments of the chief minister to premier and the assistant ministers to deputy ministers can add weight and stature to enable them to carry out their duties and responsibilities more effectively, and if the change is not something just to look good and more glamorous or is mere window dressings, we can support the amendments.
“This amendment is indeed a bold step taken by GPS government to set Sarawak apart from other states,” he said during the debate.
He said Sarawak, being one of the three equal components in the Federation of Malaysia, is different from other states, such as Penang for an example is a state and the leader of the governing body is called the chief minister.
“Sarawak as a component partner in the formation of Malaysia, would now want to change the post of Chief Minister to that of Premier to emphasise the fact that we are not a mere state but an equal component of the federation of Malaysia.
“But with the elevation of more significant designations come the heavier duties and responsibilities. ‘Moreover, the recognition of MA63 after the recent amendments to the Federal Constitution has set the wheels of autonomy in motion and generate even more urgency for Sarawak to restore and claim its autonomous rights and interests as an equal partner in the Federation of Malaysia.
“Hence the sacred duty and heavy responsibilities entrusted to the GPS government now headed by the premier to ensure due compliance and implementation of Malaysian Agreement,” Wong said.
He also reminded the premier and the Cabinet ministers of the guarantees and safeguards that were the preconditions mutually agreed upon by all the founding partners as enshrined in MA63.
“The unnecessary feet-dragging and procrastination muddled with the lack of political will and courage by the state government in negotiations after negotiations over the past decades had caused Sarawak to lose and suffer much on both the political and socio-economic fronts.
“May we take these as hard lessons learned and pray that the mistakes be not repeated as it is well- acknowledged that procrastination is the thief of time and every hour of lost time is a chance of future misfortune. Sarawak and the people of Sarawak cannot afford any more moments of lost time and lost opportunities.
“Moving forward, the next five years shall be the defining period for Sarawakians to gauge the GPS government headed by the premier on the fulfilment of the “ Sarawak First” initiatives premised primarily on the compliance and implementation of MA63 as well as its Post covid- 19 Recovery and Development Strategy as outlined in its manifesto.
‘If the GPS government cannot for examples reclaim our fair share of MP seats in the Federal Government; cannot reinstate our depleted sea territory; and cannot reinstate our rights over our oil and gas resources, then one would wonder what is the use of changing the position of chief minister to that of premier?” he asked.
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