GE14 | Sarawak Harapan’s proposed ‘New Deal’ agreement with BN to pave the way for the devolution of power to the state has come under fire from SUPP Youth central chairperson Michael Tiang.

Although Tiang said the deal underscores the significance of building a “stronger Sarawak,” he nevertheless called it a “bad deal” for Sarawak, because Harapan is only “pretending” to honour the state as a founding partner of the Malaysian federation.

This is evident, he said, in Harapan’s perception of state oil company Petros as a mere contractor, and not a Sarawakian “sovereign company.”

“Harapan even continues to suggest a mere 20 percent oil royalty for Sarawak, and also to form another oil company to share the oil and gas regulatory powers together with Petronas.

“This is a total reverse to Sarawak government’s agenda to exercise our 100 percent rights over our oil and gas within our territory.

“Therefore just on this point, Harapan has already failed to respect and acknowledge Sarawak’s territorial integrity, let alone to honour whatever is promised in the New Deal agreement,” added Tiang, who is also political secretary to Chief Minister Abang Johari Abang Openg.

The New Deal was mooted by Sarawak Harapan chairperson Chong Chieng Jen on Monday.

As Chong explained, the deal was meant to forge cooperation with the BN state government if Harapan were to seize federal power in the 14th general election, given that Sarawak will not be holding its state election simultaneously.

The New Deal proposes that certain powers would be transferred to the state, including on taxation, education and healthcare.

Chong had said that a meeting is currently being sought with the chief minister’s office for the deal to be inked before GE14.