See Chee How
KUCHING (July 8): Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) assemblyman See Chee How has urged Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to seek the decree and command of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong and the Sarawak Governor to convene the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) on the soonest possible date, in accordance with Section 15(1)(b) of the Emergency [Essential Powers] Ordinance 2021.
The Batu Lintang assemblyman said in a statement today that until the next state government is formed, Sarawak must quickly devise and embark on an interim exit plan to uplift its economic resilience to mitigate the worst financial consequences of the current crisis.
“Extraordinary measures are needed to support all economic sectors in the state to recover and be strengthened to safeguard and protect the many Sarawakian families who are losing their incomes and their means of livelihood,” he said.
See regretted that the national leaders are unfortunately embroiled in the political turmoil in the national capital amid the uncertainties concerning the national state of emergency and the country being confronted with the worst economic adversities as a result of the protracted pandemic.
According to him, any hope on the National Recovery Plan as the country’s exit plan to ease the hardship suffered by Malaysians and Sarawakians is but shattered.
“The present tussle for federal power, particularly Umno, emanated from internal discord and amplified to cause disruption to the stability of the federal government, have shown clearly that personal and partisan interests are being prioritised over the interests of the country and the general Malaysian masses.
“Unlike the other states, Sarawak must show that we can stand on our own two feet and is able to rely on ourselves to take the state and Sarawakian families out of this economic doldrum.”
See said the chief minister therefore must show his leadership to inspire and motivate all Sarawakians to collectively drive Sarawak to weather this economic crisis and the pandemic.
To have the DUN sitting is crucial as that will represent a mandate and the consensus of all elected representatives to enable the Sarawak government to make a representation to Putrajaya on Sarawakian response to the pandemic and economic recovery and growth, he added.
“With all our ADUNs and necessary heads of departments and helpers all vaccinated by now, we should be able to normalise the works of our DUN, to ensure that we can formulate and carry out the necessary policies and programmes to facilitate the implementation of the necessary health measures, the strategies to open up all the economic sectors, and to deliberate on the best solutions to safeguard and protect the Sarawakian families that are losing their incomes and their means of livelihood.”
See said the state may have made good progress in its vaccination exercise so far, but Sarawakians should always be mindful of the potential spikes in positive cases as had been happening in other countries and in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and numerous other states.
“This is because we have not been carrying out sufficient ‘testing and tracing’ of those who have been infected but are asymptomatic,” he asserted.
He believed that the chief minister is aware that vaccination alone will not take all Sarawakians out of this crisis.
“With his awareness of the hardship suffered by Sarawakians, the chief minister has opined that the well-being and the interests of the people is taking precedence over the holding of the next state election.
“The economic well-being of all Sarawakians cannot wait until the vaccination is completed. There is a need for fiscal policies from the state to undertake interim measures to mitigate the economic consequences and uplift our economic resilience to provide the necessary support to all economic and business sectors in the state to recover and be strengthened,” added See.