Agenda nasional bersama kunci penuhi keperluan negeri, kata Hamzah

Presiden Parti Wawasan Negara, Hamzah Zainudin, argues that a national agenda must acknowledge the differing needs and resources of each state, but the decision-making power should be based on national unity. He stresses that state leaders should not view Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak as competing blocks or constricting state issues to mere political demands.

Instead, the federal government should prioritize national interests in economy, education, and social advancement before determining suitable support for each state.

Being a good leader, he stresses, is not just about addressing one issue at a time. One must consider the nation as a whole. Every state has its own agenda and wants to see its respective state flourish. However, when it comes to resources, some states have an advantage over others. What we need to design is how to help each other and create a balance so we can move forward as one nation, not as separate states, he says during an FMT briefing.

Hamzah states this when asked if a federal government that is not overly reliant on Sabah and Sarawak's parliamentary support can fairly assess issues like petroleum rights based on merit, rather than as part of political giveaways. He does not answer directly, instead saying the problem will arise when states prioritize their own interests without considering Malaysia's broader agenda.

This agenda must be Malaysia as a whole. If each state has differing thoughts, we cannot build Malaysia as a nation, he cites the basis of economy, education, and social advancement.

Parliamentarian Larut says, mutual understanding needs to be strengthened so people living in one state or residing in another feel like true Malaysians. “We need to reset this way of thinking and ensure everyone believes Malaysia is their number one agenda,” he says. However, Hamzah says prioritizing the nation does not mean ignoring the strength of a state or importance of local interests.

When discussing issues with states, both parties should sit down, investigate, and reach a solution. Compromise can also involve giving states space to formulate their own bases based on their needs. “It's not about demands. We need to sit together, investigate, and solve the issue at hand. “If we can compromise on power and give each other space to investigate the nation's basis, it's not wrong to look at state-based bases,” he says.

His remarks follow a long-standing dispute between Petronas and Sarawak covering revenue sharing and commercial issues to power-sharing authority between federal and state governments. Sarawak claims greater involvement in the oil and gas sector through Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros), including in revenue distribution and pooling, while insisting both companies should continue working together.

Petronas filed an appeal in the Federal Court on January 12 to seek clarification on the framework governing its petroleum operations in Sarawak. The company stated that the application was not meant to challenge Sarawak's development aspirations or hinder Petros' role in the nation's energy sector. The dispute also has implications for Sarawak's development aspirations and national financial stability, considering Petronas has long been a primary contributor to the central government.