KUCHING: It is easy for DAP to ‘dangle carrots or promise the sky’ to Sarawak and Sabah with pledges like returning 50 per cent of taxes from the two states if it comes to federal power, said PBB supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
However, Abdul Karim said the question that needs to be answered is whether DAP can win and form the government with the number of seats it is contesting.
Abdul Karim was commenting on the announcement by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng that the party will return 50 per cent of taxes collected from the two states if it comes to federal power.
Besides that, Lim said DAP would ensure that the two states get 20 per cent oil royalty and the states would have full autonomy in healthcare and education.
“Sabah and Sarawak are not fools to be toyed around with ‘sugar coated’ promises when we know Lim Guan Eng cannot speak for and on behalf of the whole Pakatan Harapan, and DAP on its own would never be able to form a government.
“We in Sarawak would rather be contented to work with friendly parties that we have within BN than to work with ‘devils’ that we know have been giving us promises after promises before every election, and only to disappear after the election,” Abdul Karim said yesterday.
He said the people know that DAP and Pakatan Harapan desperately need the support of Sarawak and Sabah in the next general election, but to come up with ‘sugar coated’ promises are an insult to all Sarawakians and Sabahans.
Meanwhile, state BN Backbenchers Club chairman Abdullah Saidol believed that Lim and DAP would announce more promises to the people of Sarawak and Sabah, knowing that the general election is around the corner.
“Sarawak being currently led by Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and his team knows better what is good for our state. Sarawak BN has delivered and is prepared to deliver more for Sarawakians.
“We don’t need Lim Guan Eng to tell us what to do.”
According to Abdullah, Abang Johari has many things in his sleeves, all for the benefit of Sarawakians.
“CM Abang Johari had said it many times that he will not abandon the late Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s mission but instead, he (Abang Johari) will accelerate it and will come up with more of his own innovative and progressive policies.
“Administrative autonomy and devolution (of power) which include pursuing more development funds into the state’s coffers is definitely a priority and (one of the) major agendas on Abang Johari’s table. Lim and DAP should stop bluffing and confusing people especially from Sarawak and Sabah.”
Abdullah, who is Semop assemblyman, claimed that DAP “could not even fulfil significantly all their promises in Penang”.
He listed declaration of assemblypersons’ and MPs’ assets, affordable housing policies, environmentally cautious projects, appointment of opposition councillors according to vote shares in the state election, abolishment of toll, doing away with parking fees in the evenings and weekends, supporting Penang’s heritage, stopping local government’s corruption, supporting independent media, meritocratic appointments for state government-linked companies or government positions, local governments’ sub-committee meetings still not open to the public and no plan for live broadcast of state assembly sitting as among the unfulfilled promises by the DAP government in Penang.
“Instead, their actions in Penang are totally opposite of what they have promised earlier. DAP is very much aware that the parliamentary seats from Sarawak and Sabah are crucial in their calculation to earn more seats in this coming general election. Or probably they are in a state of jitters and politically obscure.”
Abdullah said DAP’s leaders are known for their ‘thick face’ and political wickedness, besides having no qualms about saying things to gain political mileage without any intention of fulfilling or executing them.
“Be prepared to hear more political nonsense from them. To a certain extent, time is bad especially for the lower income group and we are facing a challenging future. We cannot control how the global economy works but I believe every nation in the world is now facing the same issues and working towards mitigating the economic pressure.”
Abdullah said he agreed with many constructive criticisms and suggestions by people who want to see the government of the day strengthen its administrative delivery, governance and integrity.
“People are actually (being) reasonable but they want to recognise a firm assurance and viable policies that will benefit all people within our plural communities, especially towards the rural areas.
“People want to see who has the ‘political will, desire and executing ability’ to sincerely embrace the people’s aspiration, also towards understanding the vision of the younger generation.”
Abdullah said while political rhetoric will not work all the time, the people, at the end of the day, will judge who has delivered and want to deliver more for them. -The Borneo Post
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