A DAP hosted fundraising dinner held last night in Kuching saw former law minister and Umno stalwart Zaid Ibrahim slamming a broadside at the ruling central and the Sarawak state governments.

Zaid. who is now with the DAP, told the crowd of 1,700 people at the event themed “New Deal, New Hope” that both Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Abang Openg and Prime Minister Najib Razak are calling on Sarawakians to vote the ruling BN coalition into power again in the upcoming GE14.

“They want to be voted in again so that the Malaysian Agreement 1963 (MA63) can be negotiated and become a tangible reality for Sarawakians.

“My question is, they have been ruling Sarawak for the last 50 years, so what have they done? Do they still need more time to negotiate MA63?” he asked.

Turning his focus specifically on the Sarawak state government, he pointedly said: “All these years, you had many seats but you could not negotiate with Umno because you’re afraid of them.”

He claimed Umno controls the country by bullying the people, adding: “As long as it is the Umno government that is ruling the nation, it will always be Malay first, Islam first and money first.

He called on Sarawakians, especially the young voters to reject this one-sided policy, adding, the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak must not support the present government.

Recalling his years as an Umno politician he pointed out that he was privy to the way the Malay-based party administered the government.

“I saw the abuse of power, corruption and arrogance among the leaders. Umno is no longer suitable and its leaders are no longer suitable to govern this country,” he said.

Quite confidently, he “prophesied” that Umno will lose this election and hoped that Sabah and Sarawak will not lend support to Umno.

No good reason

“It would be a big mistake if Sabah and Sarawak supported the present government as the whole world is laughing at us, not just because of 1MDB but also in the way they realigned the electoral boundaries.

According to him, Sarawakians must realise that they have no good reason to support BN and must perceive the bigger picture and the many issues affecting them.

He said if Sarawakians want their 20 percent oil and gas royalties, how are they going to get it when they are not able to negotiate with the present government.

“They can’t give it to you because they need all the money to pay the debts including the RM52 billion of 1MDB,” he added.

He said, there is no point talking about MA63 or bandying about the “Sarawak for Sarawakians” sentiment and demanding autonomy for Sarawak so long as Sarawakians vote for the present ruling government again.

“It will be the same in the next five years, and BN Sarawak has already ruled the state for 50 years now,” he added.

Among the other speakers at the event were Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak chairperson Baru Bian, Amanah Sarawak chairperson Fizhuan Zaidi, DAP Sarawak founder Chong Siew Chiang, Stampin MP Julian Tan, Pending assemblyperson Violet Yong, DAP Sarawak secretary Alan Ling, DAP’s candidate for Stampin Dr Kelvin Yii and DAP Socialist Youth Petra Jaya publicity secretary Abdul Aziz Isa.