YOUR COMMENTS, PLEASE: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud swarmed by reporters after the adjournment of the State Legislative Assembly sitting yesterday.
PEHIN Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud has threatened to sue Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Kota Sentosa) for uttering defamatory words against him inside and outside the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) – unless Chong apologises within three months.
“He must be aware of what he had said about me, and I leave it to his good conscience to decide if he would withdraw those false and malicious allegations and duly apologise,” he told reporters at the DUN lobby after the sitting adjourned yesterday.
The chief minister stressed that he would have no choice but go to court if Chong failed to apologise within the given time frame.
“Actually, I hate to do this, and I have been quite tolerant, but I’ve got my dignity. It’s not a political gimmick.
“This is done on my personal capacity because what he had been saying about me taking government money … billion ringgit … that is very damaging.
“If he apologises, I can let him off but hope he doesn’t do anymore after that because if he does he has got to bear all the consequences.”
Earlier, in his winding-up speech, Taib asked Chong, who is also Bandar Kuching MP, to seriously reflect upon the unmistakable message of the vast majority of the people in rejecting the continual interference of the affairs of the state by foreign elements.
He said these foreigners and foreign organisations had no right to publish malicious falsehoods against the state government and its elected leaders.
Taib cautioned that if Sarawakians, like those in the opposition, continue to let themselves be used as tools by these subversive foreign elements, then dire economic, social and political consequences might befall the state.
He told the august House that since the 2006 state election, a new phenomenon had surfaced where external groups tried to influence the outcome of elections.
“These external groups I am referring to include Global Witness, Bruno Manser Fund, Sarawak Report and Radio Free Sarawak.
“As we all know, none of these organisations are registered in or operating in Sarawak. They are not established by Sarawakians or at the request of our people.
“Their scandalous publications normally appear just before a state election or general election. Such timing cannot be a coincidence.”
He cited, as an example, that Sarawak Report published a series of sensational allegations about land grab, wealth accumulations and corrupt practices involving him and some ministers from December 2010 to April 2011 during the run-up to the 10th state election.
“These allegations were repeatedly aired by Radio Free Sarawak, a radio station founded by a British woman and broadcasting from outside Malaysia.
“At that time, I did not want to dignify these irresponsible purveyors of malicious falsehoods by responding to their allegations, which I am fully aware were entirely baseless.”
The opposition, particularly the DAP and PKR, capitalised on it and fanned these falsehoods by distributing thousands of transistor radios and leaflets to the rural populace.
Taib said he eventually submitted himself to be judged by the voters to see who was telling the truth.
“The state BN not only won the popular votes but more than two-thirds of the seats, with Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) recording 100 per cent.”
He said results from the 10th state election and May 5 general election were clear indications that Sarawakians rejected those allegations hurled by foreigners to bring down the state BN government.