In a statement, Fadillah also accused Pakatan Harapan (PH), and in particular DAP, of playing the race and religion card by claiming GPS’ participation in the federal government with Barisan Nasional (BN) and PAS undermined the multi-cultural and multi-religious harmony that exists in Sarawak.

The federal works minister said the opposition was ignoring the track record of the ruling parties which make up the coalition in maintaining harmony in the state for decades.

“PH and DAP also continue to ignore that under the 20-points agreement and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Sarawak has full autonomy over finance, religion and language use, something that GPS will defend until the very end.”

He added GPS helped formed the current government to ensure political stability in the country and safeguard Sarawak’s rights, something, he said, PH failed to do in their 22 months in power.

“GPS will never forget how PH had sought to delay the development of the Pan-Borneo Highway, including cancelling phase 2 of the highway, the cancellation of three bridges, the denial of the budgeted RM1 billion funds to repair schools in Sarawak and the broken promises of 20% in oil royalty to be returned to Sarawak which forced the GPS government to impose sales tax on Petronas.

“We have not forgotten and we will never forget, and neither will Sarawakians.”

He also touched on the role of the coalition in preserving ethnic harmony in Sarawak.

One example, he said, was its “active involvement” in ensuring that the new alcohol licensing and alcohol sales restrictions by the federal government were cancelled.

“We would also like to point out that the recent Timah whisky controversy was started by DAP’s PH ally, Amanah, and further instigated by a PKR MP who said in parliament that drinking Timah whisky is like ‘drinking a Malay woman’.

“Where was DAP’s voice then?”

Fadillah said he was confident Sarawakians would see through PH and DAP’s instigation when voting in the upcoming state elections.

Sarawak goes to the polls on Dec 18, with early voting taking place on Dec 14.