By DAP Sarawak

On 26th October 2014, the DAP Bintulu Declaration “Towards Equal Partners” was formally launched in Bintulu at the 17th Sarawak DAP annual state convention. The Bintulu Declaration manifests DAP’s resolve to restore Sarawak’s status as an equal founder of Malaysia through a 15 point plan to promote, protect, and respect the rights of the people of Sarawak. This will be DAP’s template to move forward in fighting for Sarawak’s rights.

On 16th September, 1963, four nations, namely Sarawak, Sabah, Federation of Malaya and Singapore, joined to form a nation called MALAYSIA. It was the intention of the founding fathers that all four are to be treated as equal partners in this new nation.

After 51 years, Sarawak is reduced to one of the 13 states in Malaysia and has become a colony of the powers that be in Putrajaya.

When we agreed to form Malaysia, it was also our vision of a country where all are equal and free but the political patronage, corruption and cronyism in the system have impoverished the majority of the population with the state’s wealth being controlled in the hands of a few.

DAP aims to restore the EQUAL PARTNER status of Sarawak vis-à-vis the Federation of Malaya in Malaysia and to create an environment where the people of Sarawak will be EQUAL PARTNERS to each other by fairer and more equitable management and distribution of the state’s wealth amongst all Sarawakians.

Given that the level of development in Sarawak is 20 years behind West Malaysia, DAP recognizes that more affirmative measures are required to give true meaning to the EQUAL PARTNER status.

The Bintulu Declaration is DAP’s promise to the people of Sarawak and its call on the Government to implement the reforms and policies so as to achieve the “EQUAL PARTNERS” ideals.

EQUAL PARTNERS between Sarawak and West Malaysia

1. To call upon the Federal Government to respect the true spirit of the formation of Malaysia that Malaysia is a secular state where freedom of religion shall be upheld at all time.

2. To empower the Sarawak State Government with sufficient revenue for the planning and development of Sarawak to be on par with West Malaysia by:
(a) returning to Sarawak State Government 20% Oil and Gas Royalty as compensation in lieu of oil and gas rights; and
(b) returning to Sarawak State Government 50% of all tax revenue generated and collected in Sarawak.

3. To review the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution to devolve powers of education and health care to Sarawak, as well as partially allowing Sarawak to have some autonomy over its own police force.

4. To create the position of Minister for Sarawak Affair who shall have the final decision on all Federal matters in relation to or affecting Sarawak.

5. To change the present judiciary system whereby the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak shall be at par with the Chief Judge of Malaya, with his/her own autonomous power in budgetary and administrative matters in relation to the judiciary in Sabah and Sarawak.

EQUAL PARTNERS amongst all Sarawakians

1. To adhere to the principles of transparency, fairness and clean governance in government administration by:
(a) implementing open tenders for all government projects;
(b) implementing public bidding and open tender process for the sales and alienation of state lands to developers or plantation companies; and
(c) dividing logging licences into small areas of 500 – 1000 Hectares each and awarding these licences through public bidding or open tender process.

2. To ensure transparency and accountability in the Government administration to reduce corrupt practices and abuses by:
(a) introducing the Freedom of Information Ordinance to grant access of information to the public over all government decisions; and
(b) appointing the Opposition State Assembly member as the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for more intense and unbiased supervision of government agencies.

3. To implement a fair and equitable land policy for all by:
(a) guaranteeing the rights to renewal of land leases upon expiry;
(b) protecting the land rights of the natives of Sarawak through issuance of land titles to their Native Customary Right (NCR) land created based on their culture, traditional living and ADAT; and
(c) introducing the Land-to-the-Tiller policy whereby the state government shall grant the rural folks 20 – 30 acres of land per family and provide all financial assistance and expertise for them to cultivate their land.

4. To implement the “Home Ownership Scheme” by building sufficient good quality and reasonably priced 3-bedroom housing flats for the middle and low income earners and implement the “rent to own” policy.

5. To reform the public transport system by the government acquiring all public bus service companies in Kuching, Miri, Bintulu and Sibu and thereafter to improve its regularity and service with a view to provide free public bus services to the public in the first 5 years of its implementation.

6. To manage our natural environment and resources in a sustainable manner so as to ensure that our future generations would continue to benefit from it.

7. To adopt an inclusive and diverse education system that will meet the needs of our multi-cultural and multi-racial society by:
(a) funding the vernacular schools;
(b) reviving the mission schools with English as the medium of instruction;
(c) giving official recognition to certificates issued by Examination Boards which are of international standards; and
(d) awarding scholarship based on meritocracy and principles of social justice.

8. To restore local government elections to ensure accountability and better service of the local government to the people.

9. To set up a RM1 billion Dayak Endowment Fund to uplift the education level and commercial activities of the Dayak communities.

10. To put in place the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to ensure a professional, clean and efficient police force to combat crimes and provide security to the people.