COMMENT | For 55 years, Sarawak was governed by local-based parties. Not by national-based parties.

And for 55 years, Sarawak has been in the top three brackets of richest states in terms of natural resources and economic wealth. Yet, Sarawakians remain in the bottom three brackets of being the poorest Malaysians in the nation.

I would, therefore, like to touch on the statement issued by Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg, where he declared that only a Sarawak-based coalition can deliver inclusive development to the state and its people.

Abang Johari further stressed at the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu’s (PBB) Telang Usan Women’s wing appreciation event in Miri on the night of Nov 24: “After the past 55 years, we realised that we need to change. Our political landscape has changed; hence, we formed GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) for the betterment of the people.”

Based on the above track records and facts, can local-based parties claim to be the champions of Sarawakians when they could not even deliver the most basic needs, like rural roads, healthcare and utilities like clean treated water and grid electricity, let alone uplift Sarawakians into the top bracket of richest Malaysians?

The yet-to-be-completed Sri Aman Hospital, though a federal project, has now come to be a shining example of the inability of local-based parties to deliver and make good on a promise that has been broken and renewed every election. Countless earth-breaking ceremonies were done every election as a gimmick to sway voters since the last decade and Sri Aman still has no hospital.

For 55 years, how were the five percent oil and gas royalties used to help ordinary Sarawakians in their day-to-day living? With 20 percent to be returned to Sarawak, who will benefit from this huge windfall? Politicians or ordinary Sarawakians? What is the point of shouting about our oil and gas if we ordinary Sarawakians do not get to feel its benefits?

We have access to all levels

National-based parties like DAP and PKR are not Malayan parties. They are national parties found in every corner of the country and at both state and national levels. That is why we are “national”, not local. We have access to all levels, not just local. We are not confined to just one level.

Members of national-based parties in Sarawak are not Malayans but true blue Sarawakians holding Sarawakian ICs.

National-based parties in Sarawak have autonomy in deciding state matters. So, to suggest that DAP and PKR in Sarawak are remote-controlled by Putrajaya is mischievous, misleading and not factual.

National-based parties have consistently championed the ordinary Sarawakians. In general, DAP speaks for the urban Sarawakian while PKR struggles with the rural Sarawakian to protect Native Customary Rights (NCR) lands.

The fact is that local-based parties have, for 55 years, tried to deny NCR for rural Sarawakians while national-based parties' politicians like Baru Bian (photo) fight alongside rural Sarawakians to protect NCR lands.

In fact, for 55 years, local-based parties have surreptitiously aided and abetted Umno-controlled companies to enter Sarawak and open oil palm plantations on NCR lands throughout the state, while simultaneously shouting loudly that Umno is not welcomed in Sarawak.

This is good sandiwara! Umno, as a political party, is not welcomed by local-based parties but Umno-controlled companies are welcomed through the backdoor with open arms to rape Sarawak. This is a fact that local-based parties try to hide.

Claims that only local-based parties can deliver development is just a rehash of the old "politics of development" propaganda. Development for who? For 55 years, Sarawak lagged behind in development and the ordinary Sarawakian saw very little development while big companies reaped the benefits.

The corrupt local-based proxies and cronies grow fat with the ill-gotten profits, flouting grand mansions and disgusting displays of wealth purloined from the state in our faces while ordinary Sarawakians struggle to make a decent living.

Politicians from the local-based parties are now fighting for their relevance and survival and the only way they know is to drum up the easily understood and often used strong sentiment of "Sarawak for Sarawakians".

The fact is, after the 14th general election on May 9, the ordinary Sarawakian has realised that it is very possible to change the government of the day. Schools, hospitals, government offices and life will still go on as per normal. Local-based parties are now fearful that the ordinary Sarawakian has realised this and is waiting for the coming election to vote them out of office.

In conclusion, I ask the question: Can only Sarawak-based parties deliver the goods? My answer is a resolute and resounding 'no!' Any party can deliver the goods as long as the party has proven track records of struggling for and with Sarawakians.

Local-based parties like PBB, PRS, SUPP, UPP and PDP have had it easy for the past 55 years as the government of the day. It is time Sarawakians choose a government that has struggled with them and proven its track record. Facts matter over political rhetoric. Let the above facts speak for themselves!

VERNON ALBERT KEDIT is the Betong PKR division chief in Sarawak.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.