PETALING JAYA: Two analysts have scoffed at the idea that voters in Sabah and Sarawak will be wowed by the prospect of having a deputy prime minister from East Malaysia, or even two of them.
Council of Professors fellow Jeniri Amir and Universiti Malaysia Sabah lecturer Anantha Raman Govindasamy told FMT they did not think the election pledge, made by both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan, would have much traction with voters in the two states.
Jeniri called it an insult to Sabahans and Sarawakians. “The people of Sabah and Sarawak are not stupid,” he said. “They deserve to be given not only the DPM’s post but also the prime minister’s post.”
He said the pledges from Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Pakatan Harapan chief Anwar Ibrahim were empty promises that had been made before, such as by PH in its manifesto for the 2018 general election.
He said such promises remained unfulfilled because “they take the people of Sabah and Sarawak for granted”.
Anantha said voters were more interested in measures that would lead to the easing of their socio-economic woes.
“Economic development as well as bread and butter issues are more important to them than the appointment of DPMs,” he said.
“This is especially the case with Sabah, one of the biggest producers of natural resources and yet one of the poorest states in Malaysia.”
On Sunday, Zahid said BN, if it were to win in the coming general election, would appoint three deputy prime ministers – one each from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.
On Monday, Anwar made a similar pledge, but limited it to a DPM from the peninsula and another from Sabah or Sarawak.
Anantha said the prospect of having DPMs from the East Malaysian states would be of interest only to politicians as they would be drawn to the power and prestige implied.
He said it remained to be seen what the post would entail, noting that neither Zahid nor Anwar had elaborated on the roles and responsibilities.
“It’s all about how they define the post and how they will impact Sabahans and Sarawakians, especially when it comes to economic distribution and the imbalance between East Malaysia and the peninsula,” he said.
“Otherwise, it will be the same as having a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of East Malaysia.”
Yesterday, Gabungan Parti Sarawak secretary-general Alexander Nanta Linggi welcomed the pledges but said it was important to know whether the DPM would have the power to approve projects or certain allocations.
On Tuesday, Rahezzal Shah Abdul Karim of UiTM Sabah said the people of Sabah and Sarawak would rather see a demonstration of Putrajaya’s political will in resolving issues plaguing them than have a DPM from East Malaysia.
