KUCHING: The federal government would simply be brought to its knees if not for Sarawak’s oil and gas, which contributed tremendously to federal coffers.

Prominent lawyer Dominique Ng lamented that Sarawakians were being taken for a ride by the federal government and expressed frustration over Pakatan Harapan’s reluctance to make good on their promise to return the state’s oil and gas royalty.

“Why are we still begging for our own royalty to be increased from five to 20 per cent even though it is in the Pakatan Harapan manifesto?” asked Ng during a forum on referendums at the MBKS auditorium here on Tuesday.

“Now they are saying that they have no money to pay Sarawak the 20 per cent. I also remember another speech by them about returning 50 per cent of our taxes.

“No money means no talk…no money means Sarawak cannot get what belongs to the state. I’m not talking about anything else, as a Sarawakian, I feel like every one of you. We are now propping up the federal government,” he said.

Ng, who is also Sarawak Association for People’s Aspiration (SAPA) president, pointed out that Sarawakians were not at fault as it was the federal government who spent all the billions taken away from the state.

“Billions have been nulled and abused. Why are Sarawakians made to pay for the mistakes of the past government?

“We are innocent, we have done nothing wrong. That is why Sarawakians feel the rising anger. We have been in Malaysia for 56 years now and what happened to Sarawak?” he questioned.

He compared the state to Singapore and Brunei, both which are neighbouring countries and smaller in size to Sarawak.

“Singapore had nothing…no oil, no land. Brunei had no land, only oil. Sarawak had land, oil, gas and the most beautiful race of all — Sarawakians… 56 years later, we are the poorest in Malaysia and poorer than Singapore and Brunei.

“Is that fair, I’m asking you. I’m not blaming anybody now, what I’m saying basically is let us think as Sarawakians.

“The issue today is should we have a referendum, should we be allowed to decide whether we should stay in Malaysia or be free. I think that is an important legitimate question,” he expressed.

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Source : Sarawak Voice