The about-turn by the Sarawak State government on its stand to object the implementation of the Tourism Tax by the Federal government shows that nothing can be achieved under the present ruling government.
The lesson we have learnt from the whole tourism tax fiasco is, the only way to fight for state autonomy is through parliamentary reform.
Without winning majority in the parliamentary seats, there is no way to change anything significantly and substantially.
In the first place Sarawak Tourism Minister Abdul Karim was not fighting for a “win-win” situation through the equal distribution of the tax back to the state.
No, the question here is not about how much Sarawak, Sabah could obtain from the tourism tax sharing. The real course Abdul Karim was fighting for, Federal Government has passed a law in the violations of the MALAYSIA Agreement 1963.
Tourism was not listed neither in Federal List nor State List, during the formation of MALAYSIA.
Therefore, it is under Residual power which Federal needs to consult with State before taking any legislation on that particular affair.
However, it did not happen during year 1994, when amendment of Federal Constitution has been taken place, by adding Tourism to the Federal List, 25A item, without consultation with the state governments.
By then, Federal Government has every right to legislate any law in that particular item, including the right to tax.
Some Borneo Nationalists thought that, MA63 has provided us the best safeguard of our rights.
But they forget, Federal Constitution is the highest law in this country, and it’s subjected to any amendment, as long as the Federal Government of the day, has the majority to pass the legislation.
Realistically, Sarawak model, coalition of local parties under the patronage of Federal BN, had always been cited as the best model to fight for state autonomy.
The late Tun Adenan Satem has stolen everyone’s heart by pushing his state autonomy agenda to the BN’s limit, hence winning a big majority in Sarawak state election one year ago.
However, what have Sarawak achieved after Adenan passed away?
What about the 20% oil royalty? No, Sarawak can only form their oil and gas company, focusing at the upstream activities.
Reject Sea Territorial Act 2012? No, not even a resolution passed in the Sarawak state assembly to reject it.
Should we expect Sarawak BN MPs to table motion in parliament to urge to reject the unconstitutional law?
The mother of the all problems for Malaysia nowadays is, a centralised Federal Government, with much of the major power hold with its hands, and one man, Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister could rule the Federal Government without any real check and balance mechanism to him.
The Federal Government holds two hundred over billion budget annually, while Sabah’s state budget is only RM5 billion at the maximum.
Without fiscal power, state relies on federal’s allocation and hence our hand is tightened, potential of the peripheral states could not be released.
In this respect, a total regime change, is the first step to decentralise the power back to the state.
Sabah and Sarawak should understand that, only a national coalition with reform agenda in their mind, with the participation of the local parties in the coalition, could change this centralised federation to a decentralised and democratic federation.
By then, it’s not wise for local parties to reject to become partner associated with national parties.
Despite giving the best scenario, a single local party win the simple majority in the Sabah state election and installed as the new state government, as long as with BN/UMNO stay in power in Putrajaya, we would remain as one of the 13 states, but not the equal partner as lauded.
Look at history, we have PBS in the past. Finally they joined back BN and given up.
Look at scene of the day, we have PBB in Sarawak. And now a brave Sarawak minister has to kowtow to the the reality and lose to a mature Jagung.
What could we learn from them?