Abdullah Saidol
KUCHING: Pakatan Harapan (PH) component parties in Sarawak have been told to form their own local coalition so that it would be all Sarawak affairs should there be a contest for power in the state.
Corporate Affairs Assistant Minister Abdullah Saidol said the members of the state opposition parties should emulate Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) for being bold enough to withdraw from Barisan Nasional (BN) and formed its own Sarawak coalition.
“Sarawak-based political parties (inside GPS) were brave enough to exit BN and formed our own coalition. So I suggest those from PH Sarawak to form their own Sarawak coalition and let the Sarawak people decide who is truly sincere in fighting for Sarawak and its people,” said Abdullah.
Abdullah also urged Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to reshuffle his federal cabinet to enable a new federal government lineup that would be able to deliver the desired changes as promised and expected.
“I was equally curious and eager like everybody in the country that perhaps the new federal government (lineup) may deliver the desired changes as promised and expected.”
Amongst other things, Abdullah said the people were looking forward to see PH government introducing new and better policies regarding enforcing rule of law, eliminating corruption, more basic infrastructural development especially towards rural areas, reducing high costs of living and improving education system and facilities.
“But unfortunately, after one year taking over the federal administration, PH leaders were busy going around the country telling the people all sort of flimsy excuses as to why they can’t fulfil the changes they had promised,” Abdullah said.
Instead of being more constructive in their approach, Abdullah said PH leaders have always showed an obvious jittery and lack of experience in public administration.
“That is why the most frequent response from PH is about blaming the previous administration and at the same time not able to come up with a convincing ideas,” he added.
Abdullah believed that those who voted for PH to be the federal government had high hope that the new administration would immediately perform and deliver the necessary.
“Led by an experienced PM, I don’t think the people want to accommodate too much time for PH federal Cabinet to undergo a lengthy ‘tutorial session’ about managing this nation.”
“We in Sarawak want to work and cooperate mutually with the federal administration on common interests, particularly those that bring benefits to the community. And all efforts and initiatives to secure and strengthen our state’s rights and interests will intensify and we are serious about it,” Abdullah said.
However, he said Sarawakians could not help but to feel sceptical and suspicious about the federal government because there were so many U-turns in their decision making, adding that foreign investors were losing confidence in the nation’s economy due to the flip-flop policies and uncertainties.
“Therefore I strongly suggest YAB PM to reshuffle the federal cabinet before it is too late. Frankly, there is nothing new yet in the so called ‘Malaysia Baru’.
“If bringing all those alleged corrupt politicians to court is one of those things they described as a ‘reform’, I don’t think that is impressive because at the same time, they are showing their double standard and prejudice,” he stressed.