S'WAK POLLS Batu Kitang DAP candidate Abdul Aziz Isa Marindo lamented the "false" mission spearheaded by the Sarawak BN-led state government, saying that the state BN coalition does not have "real" autonomy.

Abdul Aziz, who is also the special assistant to Bandar Kuching MP and Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen, was responding to Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak's blog post last night. It lauded the appointment of Adenan Satem as Sarawak's chief minister by the premier.

"Najib appointed him as chief minister? That just shows the appointment of the chief minister is still the prerogative of the Umno president.

"If you want to be the chief minister of Sarawak, you have to get the consent and endorsement from the Umno president," Abdul Aziz said to Malaysiakini last night in Kuching.

He further opined that the minister's post was a representation that the state BN coalition did not have autonomy in local matters, including the appointment of the state's chief executive.

"Why do they need to get his endorsement? It also shows that autonomy does not exist among the Sarawak BN component parties," he added.

In his post, Salleh Said cited a list of accomplishments by Adenan and the reasons for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to appoint him as the state's leader.

Adenan took the office as the fifth chief minister of Sarawak in April 2014.

'People disappointed in Adenan'

When asked to comment about the announcements made by Najib after the cabinet meeting held in Kuching yesterday, Abdul Aziz felt it was rather disappointing for all Sarawakians that the state could not "wrest" back its oil royalty rights.

"It has been delayed for two years, how many years do you want to delay it further? Will it be five years, or 50 years? The people are suffering now because of the lack of oil royalty, they want their rights back.

"Although people are disappointed with Najib's announcement, they are more disappointed with Adenan's support for Najib," Abdul Aziz said.

Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen shared the same sentiment and mentioned that the state will not be able to negotiate further on the oil royalty issues.

"Not raising oil royalty at this period is just an excuse. That means there is no way Sarawak will get it," Chong said.

Chong is also the incumbent DAP candidate of Kota Sentosa and he will be facing a straight fight against SUPP's Wilfred Yap Yau Sin.

Sarawak will go to the polls on May 7.