Don’t act like a minister, Abd Karim tells Chong

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Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

SIBU: State Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Chong Chieng Jen should be patient and wait for his appointment before giving policy direction.

In urging Chong to take things slowly yesterday, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah pointed out that Chong is not even a minister or spokesman for PH, but acted like one.

He added that Chong must not act arrogant, thinking as if DAP is the government of the day in Sarawak.

“Who has appointed YB Chong and DAP to be the judge and the executor?

“He made the offer which the Sarawak state government didn’t even bother to give a peek and now he is coming back to say that since we have not agreed to his proposal, all previous offer is off,” Abdul Karim said.

The Asajaya assemblyman was reacting to Chong’s statement that the deal to restore Sarawak’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 offered by PH to the state was now off because the state government refused to sign the deal proposed by PH before GE14. Chong had said the ‘New Deal’ offered to the state government included 20 per cent oil royalty, as well as autonomy over education and health to the state if PH were to form the next federal government.

On this, Abdul Karim, who is PBB vice-president, said: “Chong must not act arrogant and think that DAP is the government of the day in Sarawak.

“He has forgotten that the state Barisan Nasional headed by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is the government.

“Chong is not even a minister or spokesman for PH but acting like one. Yesterday (Wednesday), I saw him (Chong) giving statement like a transport minister that the Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway will still proceed.”

He further noted: “Now, he (Chong) comes with another policy statement that devolution of power offer is off!! Is Chong a federal minister or spokesman for PH or he just makes himself as one?

“Be patient…YB Chong. Wait till you get your appointment before giving policy direction.”

Abdul Karim also reminded that Sarawakians were waiting for PH to fulfil its 100-day promises as well as its commitment to Sarawak in its 14th general election manifesto.