Sarawak cabinet falls short on expectations, says Batu Lintang rep

See Chee How

KUCHING: The newly-announced Sarawak state cabinet has come short of fulfilling the expectation of general Sarawakians.

For re-elected Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How, he had expected that amongst other appointments, there would be a senior cabinet minister holding the ‘Special Functions’ portfolio, particularly focused on regaining Sarawak’s autonomy and rights.

“Apart from rallying support for the Chief Minister (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem)’s Team, the BN (Barisan Nasional)’s manifesto for the just-concluded state election was also focused on championing Sarawak’s state rights and autonomy.

“That had captured the imagination of many Sarawakians, especially those in the urban and semi-rural constituencies — causing the constituents to swing their votes in favour of BN,” See said yesterday, commenting on the new state cabinet.

Further, See said throughout his reign as chief minister over the past 26 months, Adenan had been consistent in championing the state’s rights and urging Sarawakians to rally behind him and give him five years to wrestle back all the special rights that should rightfully belong to Sarawak.

“The new Sarawak state cabinet, however, is not a reflection of such aspiration. To set the priority on rural transformation is imperative and it warrants the support from all Sarawakians, but this is merely repeating the state’s needs for basic amenities, infrastructural facilities and development in rural Sarawak.

“However, the state would continue to suffer recurring misfortunes of not receiving sufficient funds and allocations from the federal government to implement such necessary projects for rural transformation.”

See, who is state PKR vice chairman, said the real need would be to have a state minister holding the ‘Special Functions’ portfolio that focuses on the mechanism and implementation of the tasks on devolution of federal powers (back) to the state; and to restore and regain Sarawak’s autonomy and state rights in the next five years.

“It is only if we’re successfull in doing so, that we would have the necessary power and funding to ensure that the state’s agenda for rural transformation would be successful.”

Asked on the absence of a Chinese deputy chief minister, See opined that ethnicity should not be a factor in the chief minister exercising his prerogative.

“We should stay away from racism as well as the ‘divide and rule’ politics, which only serve to disunite all the ‘rakyat’ (people) in our diverse society.”

Based on his observation, See said Adenan could have named a Chinese minister as his deputy if not because of some political leaders’ personal interests and immaturity.

“If Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian had shown better leadership, goodwill and openness to welcome back all former SUPP leaders without setting pre-conditions which were obviously offensive, and also left the decision to appoint ministers and deputies to the chief minister, SUPP could have 12 elected representatives.

“With such representation second only to PBB, the chief minister could have named Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian or Datuk Sri Wong Soon Koh as the deputy chief minister, based on political merits. What a missed opportunity!” See remarked.

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