SARAWAKIANS are losing hope that state Pakatan Harapan leaders have the will and the power to deliver their promises to return the state’s rights and pay high royalties for its oil and gas.

Demands for greater autonomy, return of state rights lost in the last 50 years, and higher royalties for its oil and gas gained prominence under former chief minister Adenan Satem, who had made their fulfilment his cause.

While Adenan died of heart complications in January last year, he left a legacy of emboldening Sarawakians in calling for a reinstatement of their rights.

Hopes were high that Sarawak would finally be restored to its rights with the electoral victory of PH, which had promised in its election campaign to return the state to its rightful status as set in the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

However, the coalition has already failed to deliver two key election promises that it said it would do in the first 100 days

First, the highly-anticipated increase in oil and gas royalty from 5% to 20% did not materialise and consequently PH also did not deliver the promise to distribute 10% of the royalty  money to Sarawakians as “petroleum cash dividend”.

Second, Sarawak has not been granted equal partnership status.

Promises of returning to the state 50% of taxes collected in the state and full autonomy in education and health remained mere talk, say the locals.

Many of the younger voters who spoke to The Malaysian Insight said they were disenchanted.

PH’s spectacular flip flip on oil and gas royalties have people like accountant Josh John of Batu Kawa in Kuching doubting if state PH leaders have any leverage to compel their colleagues in Putrajaya to make good on the pact’s promises.

“Everyone understood the royalty was to be calculated on gross revenue, and not on net profit according to Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali,” John said of the surprised announcement on what PH meant by “royalty”.

John saw Azmin’s  explanation that the Petroleum Development Act (PDA) 1974 needed to be amended before the PH government could pay the state a 20% royalty, as yet another delaying tactic.

“I doubt very much Sarawak PH will fight wholeheartedly for Sarawak’s rights,” he said.

“After all the PH federal government consists of too many former BN (Barisan Nasional) members whose mindset towards Sarawak will never change.”

Some Sarawakians also said that PH Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen had “lost his fight” and appeared unwilling to stand up against Putrajaya.

“No, I don’t trust Sarawak PH leaders will ever be able to return the rights, get Putrajaya to fully comply to the terms of the MA63 or increase the oil royalty,” said Unimas professor Joseph Ramanair.

He said Sarawak leaders were “ever grateful to Dr Mahathir” for leading the pact to victory in the 14th general election.

“So following the party stalwart Lim Kit Siang, CCJ (Chong) is saying ‘yes’ to everything because he knows humility is the only way right now,” said the English-language professor.

John agreed. “He seems to have lost his fight and is becoming a yes man to federal leaders,” he said of Chong.

But despite the mounting criticism, first-term PH lawmaker Kelvin Yii remained optimistic that the new government would make good on all the promises.

“While I understand the frustrations that things may seem to take more time than expected, we are working hard to make sure our promises are being kept and the interest of Sarawak is been taken care of,” the young DAP Bandar Kuching lawmaker told The Malaysian Insight.

He said that Sarawak PH leaders have been discussing the royalty issue with Azmin, contrary to what locals might think.

“We have spoken to Azmin personally on the matter and informed him on our disagreement on his interpretation of the 20% oil profits,” said Yii.

“He took note of it and now is in discussion to find an equitable allocation to the state in terms of royalty,” Yii said.

While it would be unlikely that the “equitable allocation” would amount to the 20% demanded, Yii said it would still be more than the previous 5% royalty on gross.

“I believe and am optimistic of the intentions of the new government to right the wrong of the previous BN government.

“We are working hard to make sure our promises are being kept,” Yii said. –  September 29, 2018.