Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah
SIBU: DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen and state PKR chairman Baru Bian should not become the ‘stooges of unhealthy politics of the west’, and that they need to relook at themselves before questioning Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN).
In making this statement, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youths and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the condemnation by Chong and Baru of the purported Umno-PAS alliance only showed their hypocrisy, in that PAS was once under the Pakatan pact.
He recalled that when PAS was in Pakatan, it was regarded as a loyal partner and nothing was mentioned about it being ‘an evil party’.
Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, was responding to Chong’s statement made on Friday on the proposed Umno-PAS alliance, which he said should this materialise, it might become ‘the worst combination that anyone could imagine’.
Baru was also asking whether other BN component parties in Sarawak welcomed of the proposed Umno-PAS pact.
Abdul Karim added: “I’m amused by YB Chong and YB Baru’s comments on this – they suddenly look at it as ‘the worst combination’.
“For the record, I have said that it is a non-issue for Sarawak – anything including pacts, which could unite Malaysians, is most welcome.
“There is no element of religion or race there.
“However, we must not forget that the condemnation by DAP’s Chong and PKR’s Baru of the (proposed Umno-PAS) pact only shows how hypocritical they can be. Wasn’t PAS their bed partners before?
“When PAS was in Pakatan, it was seen as a loyal partner and nothing was mentioned about it being an evil party. Why the sudden change after PAS is no longer their partners?”
Abdul Karim also pointed out that Sarawak BN parties have always voiced out their reservation about PAS and other peninsula-based parties including Umno, DAP and PKR.
“If these West Malaysian parties wanted to create a pact among themselves, then that is up to them – we don’t have any issue with that,” he said.