Kuching: SUPP’s Nicholas Wung Duk Ying’s remarks questioning whether the return of Bintulu Port can be considered a fulfilled promise simply because Sarawak paid RM1.8 billion do not merely underestimate the judgment of Sarawakians — they reflect a selective respect for facts.
First and foremost, we have never denied that the return of Bintulu Port to Sarawak is the result of years of persistent efforts by Sarawak in pursuing MA63 rights, continuous negotiations by the Sarawak Government, and the collective aspiration of Sarawakians for greater autonomy.
However, what also cannot be denied is this — without a Federal Government willing to cooperate, approve and implement the necessary measures, rights do not simply move from paper into reality.
This is not about claiming credit. This is about respecting facts.
What is puzzling is that SUPP now appears to be creating the impression that the Federal Government contributed nothing, and that this achievement was accomplished entirely by one side alone.
If that is truly the case, then why were these rights not successfully realised during more than 50 years under the Barisan Nasional era?
From the BN years to subsequent administrations, including the Federal Governments led by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, GPS remained part of the Federal Government structure. If so, why were these outcomes not achieved then?
Yet today, when progress on MA63 implementation is taking place under the Unity Government through cooperation between the Federal and Sarawak Governments, SUPP suddenly chooses to deny the Federal Government’s role.
Isn’t that rather ironic?
More importantly, neither the Federal leadership nor GPS leaders themselves have denied that this was achieved through joint efforts.
Everyone understands that this is not about one side giving and another receiving, nor about monopolising political credit. It is about political negotiation and institutional implementation to ensure that rights genuinely return to the people of Sarawak.
Yet only SUPP insists on portraying the matter as though one side deserves all the credit while the other should not even be acknowledged.
This raises a question — is this truly about defending Sarawak’s interests, or about preserving political control over the narrative?
Because once people begin accepting a simple fact — that Sarawak’s rights can be advanced through cooperation and delivered through governance, rather than permanently sustained through emotional politics — then certain political narratives lose their effectiveness.
Perhaps that is the real source of discomfort.
As for the RM1.8 billion compensation, it should not be deliberately reduced into a simplistic slogan of “buying back our own rights”.
The public deserves to understand what this arrangement actually involves — what assets, what operational rights, and what institutional transfer mechanisms formed part of the agreement — instead of reducing a complex policy process into political rhetoric.
We support Sarawak in pursuing more MA63 rights.
At the same time, we stand firmly for one principle — respect the facts.
When the Sarawak Government deserves recognition for its efforts, we acknowledge it. When the Federal Government plays a role in delivering and implementing outcomes, we will not pretend not to see it.
Mature politics is not about refusing to let others receive credit, not about opposing for the sake of opposition, and certainly not about denying reality simply to preserve political emotions.
Mature politics is about delivering results for the people.
That is the political culture Sarawakians truly deserve.
Jordan Soo Tien Ren
Deputy Chief, DAPSY Sarawak
25 June 2026
