KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) information chief, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said continuing differences and bickering at the federal level have raised concerns among leaders and communities in Sarawak and Sabah.
On Thursday (Jan 29), Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi in an interview with BFM’s The Breakfast Grille said Malaysia must continue to be a progressive nation where people of different races and religions live in harmony and that aspiration should not be seen as excessive or unrealistic.
“I want Malaysia to continue as a progressive nation where people live in harmony. Is that too much to ask?
“I’m worried that if we continue to quarrel over everything, then don’t blame Sarawakians. I hope that day never comes. We have to be respected, understood, and not waste our time on bickering,” he said.
Responding to the remarks made by Nanta, Abdul Karim said the comments reflected deep-seated unease and frustration among Sarawak leaders over unresolved federal-state issues.
Abdul Karim said many Sarawakians share similar sentiments when observing the political climate in Malaya, where frequent disputes and tensions have raised concerns about unity and governance.
“We want to see a peaceful Malaysia. We want to see a progressive Malaysia. But every day we hear about problems,” he said, adding that such issues are largely absent in Sarawak and Sabah, where communities of different races and backgrounds continue to coexist harmoniously.
He noted that the frustration expressed by Nanta, a grandson of Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) signatory, Tun Jugah Barieng, should be viewed seriously by federal leaders, as it mirrors sentiments felt on the ground in both Sarawak and Sabah.
Abdul Karim who is also the Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, pointed out that recent dissatisfaction has been heightened by debates in Parliament involving Sarawak Members of Parliament over the management of oil and gas resources, which have since been brought before the Federal Court for clarification.
“This matter has been discussed many times. The federal government sent a team, the state government sent a team, and decisions were reached,” he told a press conference today.
He stressed that disputes between the federal and state governments should be resolved through dialogue between leaders rather than through legal action.
Abdul Karim also questioned Petroliam Nasional Bhd’s (PETRONAS) decision to initiate legal proceedings, suggesting such a move would not have been made without the Prime Minister’s consent, as the company reports directly to him.
“PETRONAS reports only to the Prime Minister. Personally, I don’t think PETRONAS would dare to file this without his blessings. If so, what happened to the earlier arrangement to settle matters amicably?” he said.
He further raised concerns over statements made by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, who claimed that MA63 does not cover oil and gas matters, questioning whether such remarks, made while the case is still before the courts, could be seen as prejudicial.
“I think this is what makes Sarawakians, whether the public, leaders, or even Sabahans, feel ‘kurang senang’ when such remarks are made by federal ministers,” he said.
Abdul Karim warned that allowing the courts alone to decide the matter may not resolve underlying tensions, regardless of the outcome.
“If the decision is in our favour, we will be happy. If it is not, do you think Sarawakians will be happy? Either way, it will not solve the problem,” he said.
He added that in federal systems such as those practised in Australia and Canada, disputes between federal and state governments are typically resolved through negotiation and mutual understanding.
“This is what worries us. This is something the Prime Minister must listen to and take seriously,” he said.
