“OVER my dead body!” – these were the words Sarawak chief minister had reportedly used when he told his cabinet why he rejected the proposal by Putrajaya to merge the land codes of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak last year.

“Chief minister (Abang Johari Openg) gave them that short answer,” Deputy Chief Minister James Masing told The Malaysian Insight when speaking on continued attempts by Putrajaya to further erode the state’s rights and autonomy in the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

Under MA63, land matters are under the purview of the state. In Sarawak, relevant issues are governed by the Sarawak Land Code.

“By merging our land code with the national land code, it will be easier for Putrajaya to exploit our assets, including our oil and gas,” Masing said.

Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Xavier Jayakumar, who led talks on behalf of Putrajaya, however said he was misunderstood by Sarawak as he was merely suggesting that the land codes of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak to be assembled into a single document for use during forums or convention at the international level.

Nonetheless, Jayakumar reportedly also forwarded a proposal for an integrated national forestry policy to Abang Johari during his courtesy call on the latter in September of 2019.

That proposal, too, was rejected outright.

In a media statement after the one-hour long call at Abang Johari’s office in the state legislative assembly building, Jayakumar did not mention the rejection.

The statement merely said he and Abang Johari “discussed the direction of water management, land and mineral resources in Sarawak as well as some issues that require immediate attention from both parties, including recommendations relating to the national forestry policy”.

He said the forestry policy is an initiative to form an integrated policy covering the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak.

Currently, the three regions have their own separate forest policies and laws in agreements that were set before the formation of the federation.

Masing also said Petronas’ challenge on Sarawak’s right to impose state sales tax on petroleum products on the national oil company also shows that Putrajaya is still attempting to erode the state’s rights.

“Putrajaya, via Petronas, is challenging in court our right to exercise our constitutional rights to our oil and gas.”

Masing also questioned the “deafening silence” of Sarawak Pakatan Harapan lawmakers in the face of the assaults

He asked if they are afraid to question their bosses in Kuala Lumpur for fear of losing their new-found positions. – February 13, 2020.