KUCHING: Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) will ensure a fair and transparent political and government structure should the party be given the mandate to form the state government in the 12th Sarawak election.
Based on a copy of the party's manifesto and commitments sighted by the New Straits Times, PSB will not allow the chief minister and deputy chief ministers to hold any state finance ministerial office or positions.
It will ensure each ethnic group would have at least one minister or assistant minister appointed in the state cabinet to ensure fair representation of the government.
It has proposed that each of the major ethnic groups in Sarawak, namely the Dayaks, Malays, Chinese as well as the Melanau, and a cluster of a few minority native groups, would be entitled to at least one position, of either the chief ministership or deputy chief ministership, regardless of political background and position as to avoid cronyism.
PSB will revoke the delegation of power from the Public Services Commission to the chief minister, making it truly independent and ensure that the composition of the civil service and statutory bodies is a true reflection of the diverse racial mix in Sarawak.
It is committed to 20 per cent of government servant positions allocated for each of the categorised ethnic groups to encourage diversity and participation with fair and equitable distribution at each level of seniority.
PSB promises to carry out rightful education reforms without delay or hesitation to address the poor quality and falling standard of education in Sarawak as well as in the whole of Malaysia.
It will ensure that all Education Ministry directives, policies and implementations are consistent with the needs and aspirations of Sarawakian students with the objective of improving the education standard to be on par with international levels.
"The salaries and wages of all staff (teaching and non-teaching) of unaided and vernacular schools, including existing independent Chinese schools, mission schools, lodge schools and kindergartens are to be fully funded by the federal or the Sarawak government under PSB."
PSB will provide incentives and special efforts to encourage more Sarawakians to take up teaching and to reduce dependence on teachers from West Malaysia.
It also pledges to allocate a special budget to provide mother tongue education for each ethnic group at pre-school until primary school level to encourage the preservation of ethnic languages, customs and culture.
Apart from that, every Sarawakian aged between 18 and 23 will be given a sum of RM10,000 in assisting their job start up. It is also offering first home owners with monthly income below RM5,000 to a bridging loan for their monthly instalment payments with zero interest and no repayment for five years of the remaining amount.
PSB also aims to make Sarawak a model secular state while ensuring that all religions, ethnicities and cultures will be fairly and uniformly treated and are respected without segregation or discrimination.
It will, through written laws, ensure that the Sarawak government and political parties or any person must not make use of religion and ethnicity to: push any agenda, garner and exert any political influence, determine government policy; and promulgate discrimination or marginalisation of its people.
To safeguard the principles for the free practice of religion in Sarawak, it is proposed that any further proposed amendments on this subject matter may only be done with 90 per cent majority support of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly or via state referendum.
PSB is offering social initiatives to the people of Sarawak, including child endowment to encourage Sarawakians to settle and raise families in the state, where every family will be entitled to receive a monthly subsidy through child care assistance.
For children below 3 years old, PSB is offering a monthly assistance of RM200, and RM300 per month for children aged 3 to 5. For children aged 5 to 18, they will be given a monthly assistance of RM500.
Meanwhile, disabled senior citizens and Sarawakians who are in need of special care will be given a monthly allowance of RM1,200 and qualified senior citizens will be given a monthly living allowance of RM600, along with a special status to enjoy discounts and assistance in their daily lives.
PSB is fielding 70 candidates in the upcoming state election, including 10 women and four former federal cabinet members, namely former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun who will contest the Tamin seat and former works minister, Baru Bian who will defend the Ba'kelalan seat. The other two are former rural and regional development deputy minister Dr Tikie Lafe (Tasik Biru) and former deputy home minister, Datuk Masir Kujat (Balai Ringin).
Party president Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh will defend the Bawang Assan seat, which he has held for six terms since 1991 when he was with Barisan Nasional (BN).