Time for the SUPP to withdraw from the BN

It is time for the SUPP to withdraw itself from the BN
The people of Sarawak generally agree that the SUPP must make the decision to withdraw itself from the BN after the latest developments that affect the lives of all the Sarawakian.

As a political party, the SUPP should put the interests of the people first before its leaders’ interest or its own political interests in the BN. When the people face difficulties, the SUPP should put its stand down in favor of the people. But we did not see any respond at all from the SUPP’s leadership with the latest price hike of rice and fuels as if these are of no important to them at all.

Abdullah announced on Wednesday that the pump price for petrol would increase by 78 sen - from RM1.92 per litre to RM2.70. The price of diesel increased by a whopping 63.3 percent - from RM1.58 per litre to RM2.58. (Attached herewith is a table of oil prices of other oil producingcountries for comparison)

The fuel prices increase came almost immediately after rice price hikes. The people just can't accept the reason given by the government that the latest increase in the fuel price was to subsidise food and other items. Furthermore the BN government has not shown where the 56 billions subsidies it provided has been gone as Petronas has never shown any transparency about its accounts apart from the audited balance sheet and P&L account. Malaysian have the right to know why the state oil giant needs to be compensated by the government when Malaysia is a net oil exporter and when Petronas makes billions with the high international cruel oil prices hitting record high at USD 136 per barrel.

The latest move to increase the fuel price and rice has completely contradicted BN's proclamation of providing "security, peace and prosperity" as contained in its last election manifesto.

Malaysiakini reported that “Sapp president Yong Teck Lee warned the PM of serious political fallout for the BN and the party's Youth wing went called for the resignation of the prime minister and his cabinet.”

The SUPP and other East Malaysian BN component parties should withdraw now from the BN and let the Pakatan Rakyat take over in order to save this country from being ruined. After all, Abdullah and Najib and the BN should be brought down for failing to manage the nation's wealth and resources prudently.

The latest price hike of the petrol had shown how Sarawak has been sold out by the state BN when we produce 1/3 of the oil and gas in Malaysia. The second finance minister has told us that with every 1 USD increment in the international cruel oil market, Malaysia will enjoy a windfall or RM 250, 000, 000! That proves that the present cruel oil price of some USD 136 will give Malaysia additional RM 17, 500, 000, 000.00 compared to the year 2006. The fact that the federal government only pays the state 5% royalty on oil and gas since the 70s is hard for us to swallow when the state is considered one of the poorest states in the country.

The people of Sarawak would not have imagined that this is what they would be getting for supporting the BN in the last election. The BN won 30 out of 31 of the parliamentary seats in the March 8th general election and more importantly, that magic number of 30 is sufficient to topple the BN government. The Sarawak BN component parties must show to the people that they are worthy of their support by withdrawing themselves from the BN and they can do so without having to join the Pakatan Rakyat.

It is time for the SUPP to decide where its loyalty lies, “to the people of Sarawak or to its BN master?” “All your supporters and your grassroots and Sarawakian are watching and time is running out”.

David Wong
DAP Sarawak publicity secretary
07-06-2008