KUCHING: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s praise of Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) governance of the state contradicts the views expressed by his own cabinet ministers, said Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Women chief Kho Teck Wan.
Kho Teck Wan
She said Dr Mahathir, during a dialogue session organised by the Malaysian French Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Monday, reportedly told investors that they should have no qualms about investing in Sabah and Sarawak as both states had good governance.
“Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s confidence in the economy and governance of Sarawak under GPS is contrary to the concerns expressed by his cabinet members such as Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Deputy Minister Chong Chieng Jen,” Kho said in a statement yesterday.
During the dialogue, the prime minister also said Sarawak was the richest state in Malaysia, with a budget of RM11 billion compared with other states.
Kho said it was only in June last year that Lim made the claim that Sarawak risked going bankrupt within three years if the state continued to be governed by GPS.
As for Chong, she said he had echoed Lim’s claim when commenting on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s 2020 State Budget presentation in November last year.
“With Dr Mahathir himself telling investors that they should invest in Sarawak and Sabah as the two states have demonstrated good governance, it shows that both Lim and Chong’s bankruptcy claims are baseless,” she said.