KUCHING: Datuk Michael Tiang Ming Tee criticised the leaders of Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak for allegedly abandoning Sarawak’s constitutional rights by urging the state government to use its own revenue for healthcare.
Calling the remarks made by Padungan’s State Assemblyman, Chong Chieng Jen, and Pending’s State Assemblywoman, Violet Yong Wui Wui, as “irresponsible”, the Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government said the suggestion revealed how DAP Sarawak had once again turned its back on Sarawak’s constitutional position.
“Healthcare is a federal government responsibility as it falls squarely under the federal list in the Federal Constitution. It is the federal government’s duty to ensure quality healthcare for all Malaysians, including Sarawakians,” he said in a statement.
Tiang added that asking Sarawak to use its own revenue for healthcare amounted to “double taxing Sarawakians”.
“DAP Sarawak is denying the state’s constitutional rights as Sarawak has already contributed enormously to the national economy through oil and gas. It is the federal government that owes Sarawak, not the other way around,” he said.
Tiang further accused DAP of trying to divert attention from its own shortcomings as part of the federal government, pointing out that despite having 40 Members of Parliament and several ministers, no major improvement in healthcare funding for Sarawak had materialised under its watch.
“Instead of delivering, DAP Sarawak now shifts the blame to GPS and the state government to hide its inability to secure what Sarawak rightfully deserves,” he said.
He reiterated that the GPS government would continue to demand for health autonomy and fair federal healthcare funding in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“The people of Sarawak expect their elected representatives to defend Sarawak, not abandon its rights or become apologists for federal shortcomings,” he said, urging DAP Sarawak to stop helping the federal government evade its responsibilities and start delivering on its election promises.
