I express my disappointments over a recent statement (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2017/03/07/dap-can-promise-sabah-autonomy-but-will-pakatan-ppbm-agree/) by SAPP deputy president Melanie Chia who questioned on DAP’s promise by Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng on autonomy towards Sabah and Sarawak.
In response to Chia’s statement that the return of 50% of all tax receipts to the state being unconstitutional, I must stress that the proposal of DAP is to fulfill Sabahan’s and Sarawakian’s aspirations.
In order to uphold Sabah and Sarawak’s autonomy, a structural reform on the federal level is much needed, which has always been DAP’s struggle for Sabah and Sarawak all these years, bearing in mind that such effort has also went to the extent of a memorandum being handed over to the Sabah state government by Sabah DAP delegation led by DAP Sabah Secretary Chan Foong Hin.
We recognize the fact that the Malaysian Agreement 1963 has guaranteed 40% net taxation return to Sabah and Sarawak, and the Federal government has yet to honour such constitutional duty. While honouring Malaysia Agreement 1963, Phoong emphasized that DAP’s proposal on 50 percent tax revenue shares to Sabah state government is a “Better Deal” for Sabah and Sarawak through revising or amending Schedule 9 of Federal constitution.
These efforts can be seen through DAP’s move for a “New Federalism” these years, in which I felt puzzled over SAPP’s baseless attacks, whereby SAPP too, had claimed themselves as an opposition party fighting for a greater Sabah autonomy.
It is weird that SAPP to continuously belittle DAP’s efforts instead of working together to achieve the common goal by putting aside of political differences for the sake of Sabahans.
Under DAP’s initiative of “New Federalism”, the new and real federation would guarantee a fairer distribution and opportunities to respective states, just like the system been practiced in Australia and U.S. It will be equal status for Sabah and Sarawak within Malaysia federation, it is certainly not “colony of Malaya” like what Chia had claimed.
I must stress that DAP is a national party. DAP is also a local party. It is non zero-sum game when a national party fights for local interest. At national level, DAP will push for federation reform to reinstate Sabah and Sarawak’s rights. Meanwhile, at state level, the DAP Sabah will always champion for local interest. It’s been done since DAP started in Sabah in 1978.
On the other hand, in response to Chia’s question over Pakatan Harapan component parties’ stance on DAP’s proposal, it is rightfully for DAP as second largest political party in federal parliament to champion for this institutional reforms.
It will be brought to the discussion with component parties of Pakatan Harapan and PPBM over common policy framework as well as election manifesto later. As far as DAP is concerned, we will fight for it and it is our genuine struggle.
I also disagree with Chia for further slamming Lim Guan Eng’s on his idea that 20% oil royalty and 50% tax revenue from the state should be enough for Sabah to look after its own education and healthcare needs.
Having the state government to run its own education and healthcare affairs, Sabah will be able to have its own people-oriented policies i.e. Mother-tongue education for Sabah indigenous community and Sabah’s own education curriculum.
A better federalist concept comes by where the state is given its deserved taxation returns and resource management, the state bears the full autonomy and responsibility of its development and management.