Pujut assemblyman’s remarks on Kabong welcome for Chief Minister ‘insensitive’, slams PBB info chief

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Dato Idris Buang

KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Information chief Dato Idris Buang has lambasted Pujut assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon for posting remarks deemed as being insensitive to the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and also the people of Kabong.

On Thursday, Dr Ting posted on his Facebook page a photo of Abang Johari being paraded on board a traditional boat known as ‘sungan’ during his visit to Kabong on Wednesday, where he was the guest-of-honour at the 100th anniversary celebration of a school there.

Posted next to this photo was another image depicting a Chinese emperor being carried on board a palanquin.

Accompanying these images was Dr Tiong’s status update: “Is Sarawak 400 years behind China in our technology? Or was this another emperor in the making? Sad to see and sad to know!”

According to Idris, the procession of a distinguished person on a ‘sungan’ is a culture unique to the people in Kabong, as it is their way of expressing respect and affection to a leader.

“The Chief Minister was obliged to comply with the request for him to be carried on a ‘sungan’, as he would not want to offend the local folk there,” said Idris in a statement issued yesterday.

He also regarded the people of Kabong as a community that practised ‘a polite and courteous culture – a stark contrast to that propagated by Dr Ting, who insulted the people of Kabong with his insensitive remarks’.

Idris also said it was perhaps due to Dr Ting ‘having resided in Australia for far too long’, that caused him (Dr Ting) to look down on the culture of the people in Sarawak.

“Just imagine if he (Ting) was appointed the Chief Minister of Sarawak, and he insulted the people’s culture like this – I’m sure he would not be welcomed by being carried on board a ‘sungan’; instead, he would be chased away with a broomstick.”

Idris also accused Dr Ting of abusing social media to criticise the Sarawak government, and also spreading Democratic Action Party (DAP)’s ‘bad culture’ from Peninsular Malaysia.

“I hope the police would monitor Dr Ting’s (social media) posts from time to time,” added Idris.