THERE ARE A HUNDRED REASONS OR EXCUSES NOT TO DO SOMETHING WHEN ALL IT NEEDS IS JUST ONE GOOD REASON TO GET IT DONE

 There is a saying – ‘There are a hundred reasons or excuses not to do something when all it needs is just ONE good reason to get it done’.

More so, when ‘that something’ is so pertinent to Sarawak, and Sarawakians – our future and the future of our State and the next generations.

On this premise, it is embarrassing to read of SUPP’s Convention Resolution to the State’s GPS Government to the ‘setting up a Sarawakian Sovereign Fund to ensure that the future generations will continue to benefit from the Oil and Gas revenues even after the depletion of our Oil and Gas resources’.

Really ? 

Having being part of the Government of the day for donkey years, is SUPP’s sudden awakening from its slumber been triggered by ‘election fever’ ?

Or are SUPP Leaders suffering from political amnesia or running out of ideas on how to bring Sarawak to greater heights, despite being in the State Government for the past 47 years with BN or GPS and making hay while the sun shines ? Yes – for 47 years !

Yet, SUPP and GPS aka ex-BN Leaders had constantly turned a deaf ear and had in fact denied Sarawakians at least 3 times…..over the setting up of a State Sovereign Fund !

1st Denial

This State Sovereign Fund proposal was first mooted by YB See Chee How as early as 2014 when he suggested to the then CM, the late Tok Nan “to stamp his mark and that of his administration as clean, transparent and accountable, the new Chief Minister should set a deadline to constitute a sovereign wealth fund for the purpose of fulfilling the rights and benefits of all Sarawakians in terms of education, health and rural development and generally to improve their lives and livelihood.” (The Star, 7/6/2014)

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2014/06/07/sovereign-wealth-fund-crucial-for-overall-progress-says-see

2nd Denial

YB See Chee How repeated the call to the State Government to consider setting up a State Sovereign Fund in September 2019 – this time, under the new and current Chief Minister YAB Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Zohari. (Borneo Post, 12/9/2019)

https://www.theborneopost.com/2019/09/12/see-state-govt-should-set-up-state-sovereign-wealth-fund-for-petroleum-related-projects/

3rd Denial

As expected, See’s noble and patriotic call fell on deaf ears and this State Sovereign Fund never got to see the light of day.

Notwithstanding the sound of silence from SUPP and GPS Leaders, YB See pressed on and issued another timely on the notion that ‘what’s good for Sarawak deserves another round of reminder’, and it is something YB See Chee How pressed the State GPS Government once again to reconsider the ‘setting up a wealth fund under the watch of the state legislative assembly to manage petroleum resources in the state, to ensure that all Sarawakians have a fair share in ownership and obtain equitable benefits from the resources.’ ( FMT, 18/9/2020 )

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2020/09/18/set-up-wealth-fund-to-manage-sarawaks-petroleum-resources-says-state-rep/

How do we expect YB See Chee How’s ‘State Sovereign Fund’s seed to sprout, not to mention bear fruit when it keeps falling on GPS aka ex-BN arid, unproductive and infertile ‘political soil’ all these years ?

Whatever happened to ‘Sarawak comes first !’ ?

If ‘I’m IN !’ or ‘We’re IN ! ‘ , why are they not ‘IN’ for this ‘State Sovereign Fund’ by supporting YB See Chee How’s call ?

It’s obvious Sarawak has a problem with the political farmer, not the seed or soil. 

For 47 years….47 long years ! 

Not trying to cry over spilt milk but just the lost opportunities which went with it.

Yet SUPP Leaders now have the audacity to create political drama by using its Convention to reinvent the wheel by parroting YB See Chee How’s call with YAB CM Abang Jo agreeing to the idea riding on the artificial sweetener that “Hopefully, by middle of 2024-2035, we may have additional (money) so we invest into our sovereign fund, and that will make Sarawak financially strong,” he said, Dayak Daily reported. “But, let this (coming state) election makes us stronger,” 

If this isn’t political drama and carrot-dangling, what else is it then?

GPS is creating political drama to hoodwink Sarawakians into believing that it will start something which it had failed to do so when crude oil prices were at sky-high prices back in the 80s and 90s.

Do we still want to fall for and believe in their ‘but, let this (coming state) election make us stronger first’ gimmick ?

Just remember – We can never make the same mistake twice. The second time we make it, it’s no longer a mistake. It’s a choice.

For 47 long years, we have lived with the mistake of giving our trust to GPS and ex-BN.

Lest we forget -  SUPP was, and still is part of this mistake.