KUCHING: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri has lauded a motion moved at the recent State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting to seek mandate for the state government to better safeguard constitutional rights and protection of the state for the interests of all Sarawakians.
She pointed out such motion as one of the important measures introduced under the able leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem in shaping the political, social and economic direction and landscape of Sarawak.
“The motion is timely and covers the aspiration of the people of Sarawak from the days before the formation of Malaysia as expressly stipulated in the Cobbold Commission Report, 18 points memorandum, Inter-Governmental Committee Report and Malaysia Agreement 1963,” she said in her New Year message yesterday.
The DUN had on December 8 unanimously approved a motion tabled by Land Development Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing that the state government be fully committed in safeguarding the special interests of the state.
The motion also incorporated three other motions from Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Kota Sentosa), David Wong (DAP-Pelawan) and See Chee How (PKR-Batu Lintang) that contained the same subject matter to what Masing tabled.
Masing, who is also Baleh assemblyman, HAD proposed that the august house mandated the state government to take all measures and action under Article VIII of the Malaysia Agreement with the federal government to ensure the complete implementation of all the recommendations of the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report for the advancement and safeguard the special interests of the state and the peoples of Sarawak.
He also called for a review of the grants and other revenues assigned to the state and the discharge of financial burdens by the federal government on subject matters in the Concurrent List and additional sources of revenues be made available to the state government to carry out its constitutional functions and responsibilities to the people.
“We propose for the delegation of federal functions and powers to the state to ensure the efficient and effective monitoring or supervision, and timely implementation, of federal works and infrastructural projects in the state or projects designed to improve the welfare of the rural communities.”
Masing called for a review of all legislations that affect the state’s rights to its natural resources and exercise powers and functions in relation thereto under the Federal Constitution within its boundaries and upon such review, to amend or repeal such legislation.
Finally, he called for a review of those federal government’s decisions or policies which were found to be inconsistent with the aspirations of the people of the state as noted in the Cobbold Commission Report and the IGC Report at the time of the formation of Malaysia.
Nancy, who is Batang Sadong MP, said that Adenan as the Chief Minister had proven himself within a short period of time as a leader of calibre by introducing a rakyat-oriented policy and a leader who walked the talk.
“In addition to that, the state government has abolished all the tolls in Sarawak, reduced the electricity tariff, intensified the enforcement against illegal logging and corruption, increased the social welfare assistance for the target group by RM50 plus not less than 45 other principles and actions introduced by the Right Honourable Chief Minister for the benefit of the people in Sarawak.
“Therefore, the people of Sarawak should give him the mandate in the coming state election to lead the state for another term,” she said.
She pledged to intensify the activities and programmes in Batang Sadong constituency and bring more infrastructure development for the people in 2016, by engaging more with the implementing agencies to work together with her office in ensuring the smooth implementation of development projects. - Borneo Post
“Bear in mind, there are human factors behind it (the implementation of projects). If the project is delayed and not carried out accordingly it will affect these people where more and more graduates are unable to find jobs and will deprive them of job opportunities,” she said, adding that Yayasan Shukri had assisted either directly or indirectly students from the constituency to further their studies
She also called on the Generation Y not to forget their Eastern values and reminded them of the detrimental impact of the internet and social media if wrongly used in their daily activities.
“My advice, be mindful with what you tweet, retweet, post and re-post without verifying the authenticity of the contents. You may hurt other people’s feeling and life and one day it may happen to you and your loved ones.”
