Murray Hunter : Sarawak’s so-called “high-income” label is a gross misrepresentation
that fails to reflect the daily struggles of most Sarawakians, who
continue to suffer from underdeveloped infrastructure, high poverty
rates, and a severe lack of essential services.Although federal
data may paint an improved picture of per capita income, it conceals the
fundamental reality that much of Sarawak’s wealth has been siphoned off
for federal use, with minimal reinvestment in the state itself.
This
ongoing extraction has left vast areas of Sarawak impoverished and
deprived of the very benefits generated by its resources.
Despite
Sarawak contributing immensely to Malaysia’s oil and gas revenue, it
receives only a 5% royalty under the Petroleum Development Act of 1974.
This has stymied Sarawak’s economic autonomy for decades, leaving it
reliant on federal allocations instead of allowing it to fully leverage
its resources.
Recent efforts to implement an oil and gas sales
tax bring in only a fraction of what Sarawak actually generates—wealth
that has long been funnelled into developing Peninsular Malaysia.
The
notion that Sarawak should now “share its wealth” with poorer states is
an insult, disregarding the fact that this wealth has never truly
benefited Sarawakians but has been systematically siphoned to Malaya.
The
federal government has capitalized on Sarawak’s oil resources for
national projects that largely exclude the very state that produced this
wealth.
Calls for Sarawak to support other states are premature
and offensive when it has only just begun reclaiming control over its
own resources through initiatives like the state-owned Petros. These
long-overdue steps toward autonomy are necessary for Sarawak to achieve
true development and address the historical inequities imposed upon it.
This
exploitation of Sarawak and Sabah's resources is among the reasons why
the federation’s unity has become increasingly fragile. Achieving parity
with Peninsular Malaysia means Sarawak should retain a much larger
portion of its revenue to alleviate poverty and reverse the
underdevelopment that still afflicts its people.
Dr. Mahathir’s
remarks show a shocking disregard for the suffering endured by Sarawak’s
people, suffering largely exacerbated by policies enacted during his
tenure.
If Malaya had honoured its part of the MA63 bargain,
Sarawak and Sabah would have long ago become high-income states like
Singapore!
His statement is a reminder of past injustices, and he
owes Sarawak and Sabah an apology for the immense harm inflicted upon
them during his time in power.
His insensitive and recalcitrant
attitude toward the community's concerns only deepened the mistrust of
the federal government, as he refused to acknowledge or address the
issues they faced.
End of statement.
28 October 2024
Daniel John Jambun President Borneo's Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo)
Robert Pei President Sabah Sarawak Rights Australia New Zealand (SSRANZ)
