Abang Jo questions Pakatan’s sincerity

KUCHING: Tan Sri Abang Johari has questioned Pakatan Harapan’s sincerity in offering election promises to Sarawakians.

“Can you trust them? After what happened in their 22 months (in power)?” the Sarawak Premier told reporters after launching the Sarawakku Sayang programme at Telaga Air here yesterday.

He was referring to the short-lived Pakatan administration when various projects in Sarawak were cancelled and manifesto promises such as paying 20% oil royalty to the state, remained unfulfilled.

On Saturday, Pakatan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the coalition would fully implement MA63 and give health and education autonomy to Sarawak should it come into power.

He also said Pakatan was open to the possibility of working with Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to form the next Federal Government.

Asked to comment on this, Abang Johari declined to make any commitment.

“Let us contest (the elections) first, then we will see,” he said.

In his speech earlier, Abang Johari said Sarawak would work with a prime minister who would be fair to the state.

“We’ve been left behind for too long and we’re still negotiating several issues under MA63,” he said.

He also called on Sarawakians to send as many GPS representatives as possible to Parliament to fight for the state’s rights and interests.

“If possible, we want to win all 31 seats. Don’t let Putrajaya take us for granted,” he added.

Separately, Abang Johari said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar would still have a role to play in advising the state although he was not seeking re-election.

He said Wan Junaidi’s experience in environmental and legal matters would be helpful in Sarawak’s transition to a green economy.

“We need him to give us input on matters like carbon trading which involves international law,” he said.