PUTRAJAYA must start respecting the concept of federalism and stop meddling in the affairs of the states in the federation, said Sarawak’s assistant minister for law and state-federal relations.

Questioning Putrajaya’s decision to allow the Rural Development Ministry to start appointing its own community leaders in Sarawak, Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali asked why the federal government was doing so when it clearly knows it has no right to do so.

The prerogative and powers lie with the state under the Community Chief and Head Ordinance 2004, she said.

“Why (do) they want to interfere?” she said today.

Hasidah, when speaking to reporters after the ground-breaking for a RM5 million multi-purpose hall for residents of Taman Sukma in Petra Jaya this afternoon, said Deputy Rural Development Minister R. Sivarasa’s announcement was, therefore, inappropriate and not applicable to Sarawak because “the appointment of village heads and community leaders is the jurisdiction of the state government”.

Sivarasa, speaking at a dinner for delegates attending PKR divisions’ annual general meeting in Kuching on Sunday, said his ministry will make the appointments even if it the community, village or longhouse has two communal leaders.

The Sungai Buloh MP said the ministry could start appointing the community leaders from January 1.

“In 2004, we passed the ordinance and it’s clear that the power and prerogative is the state’s to appoint its own community leaders,” said Hasidah.

She also asked who knews the people of Sarawak better if not another Sarawakian.

“Only we in Sarawak have the right to enforce our own law to appoint our own people to take care our own people.

“Only we know the demography of our state.

“The federal government should not interfere in the appointment of these community leaders.

“Why they want to, I’m not sure,” Hasidah said.

“I’m not here to speculate but the truth of the matter is the power (to make the appointments) lies with the state.”

Hasidah said Putrajaya should start respecting the terms and rights of Sarawak in the Malaysia Agreement 1963(MA63), the recommendations of the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) report and the federal constitution.

“Sarawak has the right to manage its own development agenda. That includes the appointment of the community leaders, the right to implement our own laws and manage our own affairs.”

The state’s two deputy chief ministers have also slammed Sivarasa and Putrajaya over the decision with Douglas Uggah saying it “will only be disruptive to the stability, harmony and solidarity of Sarawak’s rural villages and longhouses” while James Masing said the federal government is attempting to put in place a divide-and-rule policy. – September 19, 2019.