Datuk Talib Zulpilip
SIBU: Assistant Tourism Minister Datuk Talib Zulpilip said all comments by state DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen, especially on BN, must be taken with a pinch of salt.
Talib said to be fair, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem had started on the right footing, and his emphasis on integrity should be lauded and supported.
“Hopefully the opposition, Chong included, should recognise this and support it.
“We have not heard much about opposition support for an integrity based government. But if DAP is seriously sincere, they should give Adenan a chance with their genuine and full support.
“Unity government is good in concept if everyone is sincere. Is DAP sincere? The statements and actions by DAP indicate desire for domination rather than power sharing, a basis for a genuine united government.
“In DAP controlled Penang, PAS and PKR are sidelined. In Selangor the PR is having a lot of problems. So talk by DAP about unity government is just talk,” he said.
Talib was reacting to Chong’s statement on Sunday that Sarawakians could give Adenan a chance, but as Malaysians, they could not afford to give BN another five years to ruin the country as BN had been given 51 years already.
Chong opined that Sarawak BN would still win a majority of seats in the 11th state polls, and that Adenan would have no problems remaining as the chief minister, but the win-win outcome would be an increase in the opposition’s seats to lay the foundation for changing the federal government in the 14th general election.
Chong said once Pakatan Rakyat (PR) took over the federal government, Sarawak BN would have the option to form a united government with them, if Adenan continued to subscribe to clean and good governance.
Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said BN would not twist words and confuse the public, unlike the DAP.
On the state polls, Abdul Karim said, “We will try our humble best to win it based on our good track record in governing the state, plus the added euphoria of good feelings towards our CM leading the state now.
“I am unsure what YB Chong or the DAP wants. In one instance, he said the people of Sarawak can give Adenan a chance, but he continued to say that we, as Malaysians, cannot afford to give BN another 5 years.
“He later continued to say that once Pakatan takes over the federal government, whose present term will only expire in 2018, Sarawak BN can form a united government with Pakatan then.
“Is DAP and Pakatan already admitting defeat for the next state election, as what the statement reflect? Or is DAP just keen on taking over the federal government and have a united government with the state?” he asked.
Hence, DAP better be sincere to the public on its cause and struggles, he said.
“Election is not a game as the stakes are high. We have seen DAP and PKR winning several seats in the last state and parliamentary elections but their YBs are not performing to expectations, and most of the time incommunicado.”
“If the state DAP is really sincere and support Adenan, then ‘give him a chance’ and don’t ‘disturb’ him in the next election as the next election is to form a state government, and not a federal government.
“If DAP’s wishes to topple the BN government, wait till the next general election. I believe they would do the public a lot of favour as it will save the government and public money in conducting a heavily fought state election,” he said.
When contacted, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman pointed out that it was good for the DAP to admit that BN would win under Adenan in the next state election.