Speech by Lim Guan Eng during the Miri DAP Thanksgiving Dinner on 2^nd May 2011 released in Kuching on Tuesday, 3^rd May 2011: 

DAP will work with PR to launch a 5-year plan to change the state government to return Sarawak to Sarawakians based on 3 main operational thrusts 

Despite falling short of the effort to deny BN its 2/3 majority, PR did creditably by doubling opposition seats to 16. The popular vote of BN also fell from 63% in 2006 state general elections to 55%. Unfortunately one of the injustice of constituency delineation leaves the opposition at an unfair disadvantange is that despite BN winning only 55% of the popular vote, BN could still win 77% of the seats.

This unfair victory of BN winning 77% of the seats despite getting only 55% of the popular vote is one of the key reasons why Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud refuses to step down. However the nervousness of Taib at this reduced victory can be seen when he had to get himself sworn in as Chief Minister at near midnight. Why get sworn in in such great haste in the dark and stormy night and not wait a few days later to do it properly in broad daylight?

Is Taib afraid that Putrajaya will intervene and prevent Taib from taking charge of Petra Jaya?

The onus is now on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to deliver 3 basic demands from the people of Sarawak:-

• get Taib to resign;

• increase oil royalties of 5% to 20% annually or RM1.5 billion to RM6 billion per year; and

• improve basic infrastructure of water, electricity and roads to reduce poverty in Sarawak which is amongst the poorest states in Malaysia.

Should the Prime Minister fail to deliver these 3 basic demands, then Sarawakians need not wait 5 years for the next state elections but can make their unhappiness clear at the national general elections expected within a year.

There is no racial divide in the support for PR and DAP. BN wants to cover up and distract attention from the real message of the voters for change, end Taib's rule and corruption as well as promote good governance. DAP could only double our seats from 6 to 12 because we obtained the support from all ethnic groups, including non-Chinese, in the urban areas. If there is a divide, it is a urban-rural divide that PR and DAP has to bridge if there is to be a change of government in Sarawak.

DAP will work with Pakatan Rakyat(PR) to launch a 5-year plan to change the state government to return Sarawak to Sarawakians based on 3 main operational thrusts as follows:-

1. Preparing for government by monitoring and proposing policies in the State Assembly with the establishment of the first shadow Cabinet in Sarawak's history that addresses all the portfolios.

2. Winning over the rural voters with programs and direct engagement whether Chinese, Ibans, Bidayuh, Melanau/Malay or bumiputeras by adopting the model followed by Kiduorng ADUN Chiu Chiu Sing who obtained 64% of non-Chinese support;

3. Multiplying the recruiting of new supporters so that DAP can establish a wide support network.

The time has come for change. Our future has been stolen, we can not allow our childrenĄ¯s future to be stolen also. Only if the people of Sarawak in both the urban and rural areas stand up together for Sarawak, then only can the future for our children be protected.

Let us stand up together so that Sarawak can step out into the international stage and realise its full potential by marrying Sarawak's abundant natural resources with the talented human resource.

*Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary General & MP for Bagan