SARAWAKIANS have taken to social media to bash state Pakatan Harapan chief Chong Chieng Jen over his flip-flop on the “New Deal” oil royalty and autonomy offer.

Chong, on Wednesday, said PH’s offer, as contained in its Sarawak manifesto, of increasing oil royalties from 5% to 20%, getting 50% of the total federal tax collection in the state, attaining autonomy in education and health services, and pursuing the further devolution of powers in other areas, is no longer valid, as the state Barisan Nasional government has refused to sign the agreement.

He was immediately accused of reneging on PH’s election promises.

Chong’s authority to make and withdraw election promises was also questioned by state Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Abdul Karim Hamzah, who accused the Stampin MP of acting like “a minister”.

Sarawak Reform Party president Lina Soo, in a Facebook post, said the issue of returning autonomy and seeking the devolution of powers, as contained in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), “is not for any punk lawyer MP to muck around with”.

She said the matter is also not to be used as “a political tool to threaten or blackmail the Sarawak govt…. (and) to hoodwink the voters”.

She said talks on MA63 should be held among the federal, Sarawak and Sabah governments, the three signatories to the agreement that led to the formation of Malaysia.

“It is (an) international agreement between nations, for immediate execution and compliance. Not between political parties.

“If MA63 is not complied with, or possibly, it is even unconstitutional and illegal in the first place, then, the Sarawak government has every right to rescind the agreement under international law.

“This is not rocket science!”

Robert Lau Hui Yew of the Sarawak United People’s Party said on Facebook: “I am flabbergasted by this stand from the MP for Stampin. These rights are enshrined in an international agreement, MA63, and signed by sovereign countries, not by DAP.

“Just because Sarawak CM (chief minister) Abang Jo (Abang Johari Openg) did not play ball with you during your election campaign, (it) does not give you any better claim of ownership of the rights for Sarawak under MA63, apart from an ordinary citizen of Sarawak.

“It is not political goodies to be dished out during elections.

“I can only conclude that the MP for Stampin has already sold his allegiance to his political master in Malaya.”

A political activist who goes by the online nom de guerre “Al Tugauw”, in a Facebook post, said: “Whether Chong or the PH federal govt agrees to (the) devolution of powers or not, Sarawak can still insist on its rights and powers.

“It is either that or independence. Sarawak should not put up with any Malayan agenda any more, whether BN or PH.”

The state BN government, on April 9, had refused to sign the acceptance letter for the “New Deal” offer as the state government does not recognise Chong and the other two signatories of the deal – state PKR chief Baru Bian and state Amanah chief Fidzuan Zaidi – as legal representatives of the federal government. – May 21, 2018.