SARAWAK Barisan Nasional (BN) rejected the “New Deal” offer by Pakatan Harapan (PH) on April 9 because they do not recognise state PH leaders or the two signatories of the deal as representatives of the federal government.

Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office Abdullah Saidol said those not recognised include Sarawak PH chairman Chong Chieng Jen, PKR state chairman Baru Bian and Amanah state chief Fidzuan Zaidi.

He said the offer made was not valid because it “has no force of law”.

“In the first place, it was not consistent and violates the motions that were supported and approved by all Sarawak assemblymen in the state assembly,” said Abdullah, who is seen as the unofficial government spokesman.

He was commenting on Chong’s statement Wednesday that PH’s offer of 20% oil royalty, 50% of tax collection, autonomy in education and health service in their election manifesto is no longer valid as BN had rejected the offer.

Abdullah brushed Chong off as “just talking nonsense and trying very hard to find all sorts of excuses so as not to fulfill their election promises”.

“PH leaders in Sarawak should be reminded that two motions on matters relating to oil royalty and devolution of powers were tabled in the last state assembly sitting and unanimously supported by all assemblymen, including all those from the opposition.

“These demands or negotiation must be appropriately addressed and are for the attention of the federal government.”

Abdullah also said PH should stop flip-flopping on its stand after its newly elected Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii, in what is seen as a damage control, said PH “remains consistent in our stand and sincere in our intention to fulfill our promise of devolution of powers to Sarawak and state government”.

He, however, said for PH to devolve power to the state, Sarawak BN must agree to accept it.

“We cannot give them something they do not want, even though we see no reason for them to reject the deal if they truly believed in the devolution of powers,” he said.

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak political analyst Jeniri Amir, however, asked PH if the promises they made in the manifesto were to Sarawak BN or the people of Sarawak.

“PH should fulfill whatever promises they had made in the manifesto because these promises were pledged to the people not the government.”

Jeniri believed Chong had jumped the proverbial gun when he made the withdrawal statement because he believed the new PH federal government had not made a policy stand or statement on this.

“Chong should not pledge these promises just to win votes and garner support in GE14. This is the time to walk the talk.” – May 18, 2018.