Dec 4 — DAP wants to offer more autonomy and revenue to Sabah and Sarawak in a “new deal” that will also restore their status as equal partners in the formation of Malaysia.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said that Sabah and Sarawak have become “victims” of an over-centralised federal government under Barisan Nasional’s rule, which he said had caused east Malaysians to be deeply disappointed and deprived.

“Without Sabah and Sarawak, there won’t be Malaysia,” he pointed out as he stressed the need for recognition of their status as founding partners of Malaysia in 1963.

With Sabah and Sarawak currently relegated to being two of 13 states in Malaysia, he said there was a need for a new deal.

“DAP is committed to offer a New Deal for Sabah and Sarawak that recognises the equal partner status of Sabah and Sarawak in the federation, as well as to decentralise powers and tax revenue that is reasonable for their rakyat,” he said in his policy speech at the DAP national conference here.

“Under a new framework of New Federalism, Sabah and Sarawak shall enjoy a wide range of autonomy in community policing, health, education, transport, as well as enjoying a sizable share of tax revenue to finance the autonomy areas of competence.

“Such a New Federalism framework can also apply to Johor, Selangor, Kelantan and Penang,” he said in his policy speech at the DAP national conference here.

The “New Deal” offered by DAP is part of the DAP@50 Declaration adopted by the party today as it marks its 50th anniversary this year.

The declaration said that the new deal can only be carried out after Malaysia’s democracy is rebuilt with constitutional reforms to restore the citizens’ rights.

“To rebuild Malaysia, we need a clean set of institutions which include clean, fair and credible elections, a world class parliament that represents the voices and concerns of all Malaysians, a free media, an independent judiciary, and a neutral and effective civil service.

“This can only happen by constitutional means, through the democratic process by the ballot box and not in any violent, unconstitutional or revolutionary manner,” the declaration said.

Sabahans and Sarawakians had in recent years sought greater autonomy and a restoration of the rights due to them in the two places traditionally considered as Barisan Nasional’s vote bank.