Chong (seated third right) flanked by Baru (third left) and Fidzuan (second right) with other PH committee members attend the press conference at DAP Sarawak headquarters in Kuching.
KUCHING: Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sarawak has condemned the statement made by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that the government would take stern action against those attempting to instigate the people through the slogans ‘Sarawak for Sarawakians’ and ‘Sabah for Sabahans’.
According to PH Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen, the coalition views such statement as a threat.
Moreover, Chong said the slogan (Sarawak for Sarawakians) was endorsed by the state Barisan Nasional (BN) during the state election last year, which, to an extent, helped obtain some votes for BN as well.
“However, now that the ‘Sarawak for Sarawakians’ slogan works against the BN due to the reluctance on the part of the BN to devolve power to Sarawak, the BN-led government attempts to criminalise the (usage of the) slogan.
“Ahmad Zahid’s statement speaks clearly of the Umno position against the demands of Sarawakians for more autonomous power and it is also the way (of) Umno flexing its muscle against Sarawak,” he told reporters during a press conference at the state Democratic Action Party (DAP) headquarters here yesterday.
Chong, who is also DAP Sarawak chairman, said to prove that Umno was against the demands of Sarawakians for more autonomous power, it was only as recent as Nov 17 this year that the state government proposed for Ahmad Zahid to be the person to lead the team representing the federal government in the negotiation for the devolution of power to Sarawak.
“Then, Ahmad Zahid issued such statement.”
He said PH expressed its disappointment to see that in the four days that passed since Ahmad Zahid made his ‘domineering statement’, the only reaction from Sarawak BN was an ‘apologetic explanation’ by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and the ‘pin-drop silence’ from other BN Sarawak leaders and component parties, including Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP).
In contrast, Chong said when Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia expressed a different view on Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) as well as on Sarawak and Sabah’s rights, many BN Sarawak leaders, including Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, were quick to condemn Pandikar openly.
“The reason being, as a Speaker of the House of Representatives, Pandikar Amin has no executive power outside Parliament; therefore, no one is afraid of him. On the other hand, as the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister, Ahmad Zahid has great executive power including ordering any arrest; thus, none dares to speak up against him,” he said.
Chong said given the ‘master-servant’ mentality between Umno and BN Sarawak – with the former being the master – PH questioned what Sarawakians could expect from the so-called negotiation by BN Sarawak for more devolution of power.
Prior to the press conference, PH held a meeting to discuss matters regarding the next general election.
Present at the function were Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) state chairman Baru Bian, Parti Amanah Negara state chairman Mohd Fidzuan Zaidi, DAP Sarawak deputy chairman Chiew Chin Sing, state PKR Women chief Nurhanim Hanna Mokhsen, Krian assemblyman Ali Biju and other PH committee members.