Time for new deal between federal, state governments, says DAP man
Liew Chin Tong says many states were not happy with the concentration of power and resources in the hands of the federal government.
PETALING JAYA: Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong says federal and state governments should renegotiate power-sharing and resource-sharing arrangements to create a “more balanced and just” system of Malaysian federalism.
He said many states – particularly Sabah, Sarawak and Johor – were dissatisfied with the concentration of power and resources in the hands of the federal government, which he said has caused an imbalance in states’ economic and infrastructural development.
Liew cited several instances where state governments have highlighted the issue of unequal distribution of resources.
“Recently, the Sabah Law Society and Sabah Pakatan Harapan sued the federal government for not fulfilling the constitutional provision of providing the state with 40% of revenue collected from Sabah,” he said in a statement.
“The sentiments in Sarawak against the federal government have been consistently high due to the unequal distribution of resources and the inability of the federal government to empathise and comprehend the aspirations, concerns and desires of the people of Sarawak.”
He added that the Penang and Kelantan state governments have also voiced similar sentiments.
Yesterday, the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, criticised Putrajaya over the lack of federal funds for the state, saying that he felt as if Johor was being “treated like a stepchild” even though it is among the top contributors to the national economy.
Pointing out that allocations for the state were “starkly disproportionate” to the RM13 billion Johor contributed to the federal coffers annually, he also said Johor would possibly be more developed if it stood on its own feet.
“Don’t let the people of Johor be forced to leave Malaysia,” he added.
Liew said the call by the Sultan of Johor was timely and resonated with the sentiments among states that were in a similar predicament.
“I will speak at the Johor state assembly on Sunday to echo the call by the Johor sultan to renegotiate power-sharing and resource-sharing arrangements between the federal and state governments,” said Liew.
One of the recommendations he plans to raise at the assembly is to get the federal government to form a federal-state relations commission to study new power and resources sharing arrangements.
He called for the Johor menteri besar to form and lead an “all-states collaboration committee” to coordinate and set an agenda for power-sharing and resource-sharing with Putrajaya.
“This will be a ‘coalition of the willing’,” Liew said.
“There is no need to wait until all states agree to join. The states which see current federal-state ties as being unfair should join hands to push for a new deal.”
PETALING JAYA: Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong says federal and state governments should renegotiate power-sharing and resource-sharing arrangements to create a “more balanced and just” system of Malaysian federalism.
He said many states – particularly Sabah, Sarawak and Johor – were dissatisfied with the concentration of power and resources in the hands of the federal government, which he said has caused an imbalance in states’ economic and infrastructural development.
Liew cited several instances where state governments have highlighted the issue of unequal distribution of resources.
“Recently, the Sabah Law Society and Sabah Pakatan Harapan sued the federal government for not fulfilling the constitutional provision of providing the state with 40% of revenue collected from Sabah,” he said in a statement.
“The sentiments in Sarawak against the federal government have been consistently high due to the unequal distribution of resources and the inability of the federal government to empathise and comprehend the aspirations, concerns and desires of the people of Sarawak.”
He added that the Penang and Kelantan state governments have also voiced similar sentiments.
Yesterday, the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, criticised Putrajaya over the lack of federal funds for the state, saying that he felt as if Johor was being “treated like a stepchild” even though it is among the top contributors to the national economy.
Pointing out that allocations for the state were “starkly disproportionate” to the RM13 billion Johor contributed to the federal coffers annually, he also said Johor would possibly be more developed if it stood on its own feet.
“Don’t let the people of Johor be forced to leave Malaysia,” he added.
Liew said the call by the Sultan of Johor was timely and resonated with the sentiments among states that were in a similar predicament.
“I will speak at the Johor state assembly on Sunday to echo the call by the Johor sultan to renegotiate power-sharing and resource-sharing arrangements between the federal and state governments,” said Liew.
One of the recommendations he plans to raise at the assembly is to get the federal government to form a federal-state relations commission to study new power and resources sharing arrangements.
He called for the Johor menteri besar to form and lead an “all-states collaboration committee” to coordinate and set an agenda for power-sharing and resource-sharing with Putrajaya.
“This will be a ‘coalition of the willing’,” Liew said.
“There is no need to wait until all states agree to join. The states which see current federal-state ties as being unfair should join hands to push for a new deal.”
No comments:
Post a Comment