Be sincere about implementing health, education autonomy for Sarawak, deputy premier tells govt
KUCHING, Nov 30 — Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian today said he believes that Sarawakians are expecting the unity government, led by Pakatan Harapan (PH), to be sincere about implementing health and education autonomy for Sarawak, as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report.
“They are also expecting a greater share of financial taxation for Sarawak under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution and for the unity government to settle all the outstanding issues listed under MA63 and the IGC Report,” Dr Sim said his winding-up speech at the state assembly here.
Dr Sim, who is Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president, reminded all state MPs that Sarawakian voters expected them to be more vocal in Parliament on behalf of the state.
He added they were elected by the people of Sarawak and should put Sarawak first when in Kuala Lumpur.
“Fulfil your election promises to the people of Sarawak,” he added.
Dr Sim also expressed his disappointment that the recently concluded general election showed that Malaysia is more polarised and divided than ever before.
He added the two-week-long campaign was not only emotionally charged, but also peppered with toxic politics imported from the peninsula.
“Sarawakians can forgive, but they must not forget in future elections all those local culprits who practised the toxic peninsular Malaysia political culture in Sarawak,” he added.
Dr Sim expressed his gratitude to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for his wisdom in decreeing the formation of the unity government.
He also congratulated Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on his appointment as the 10th prime minister of Malaysia.
“The time for politicking is over. It is time to govern, to get the job done and to prepare for the worse of 2023 with the global geopolitical hostility, regional instability, economic recession, and hardship that will inevitably come to Malaysia and Sarawak,” he said.
