PH must make amends before Sarawak polls, says state coalition chief

Sarawak PH chairman Chong Chien Jen says the coalition must meet its promises.

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan’s defeat in the Tanjung Piai by-election is a message from the people that the government should start doing what they promised to do, says Sarawak PH chairman Chong Chien Jen.

Chong said the loss was an indication of people’s dissatisfaction towards the PH government’s performance after 18 months in power, likening it to a “term assessment” by the people of the government.

“From this term assessment, the PH government has failed miserably. Not only did we not gain any increase in Malay support, we have lost the majority of Chinese support.”

He said the message was loud and clear and the top leadership, as well as the Cabinet, should start making amends and rethink policies.

He said the government must take stock of the situation as the Sarawak state elections are looming close (they must be held before September 2021) and there are three and a half more years to the 15th general election.

“The Sarawak state elections will be the mid-year assessment for the PH government. If the PH government fails again, the momentum will carry itself to the end of the term.

“Therefore, between now and the next Sarawak state elections, which could even be held as early as six months from now, there must be a discernible change in federal government policies in the right direction.”

He said PH only needs to follow the GE14 election manifesto to achieve victory again.

He urged PH supporters to take the Tanjung Piai loss as a blessing in disguise.

“It has given us an early warning signal, rather than letting us find out the hard facts after the Sarawak state elections or GE15,” he said.

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu information chief Idris Buang, on the other hand, noted that the PH government had failed to keep its promises for Sarawak, pointing out that the 20% oil royalty and 50% share of income tax promised to the state had yet to be received.

He said there were also many other problems that DAP and PH had created for themselves by giving false hopes to the people.

This included cancelling projects slated to take place in the state, due to a lack of funds, failure to reduce petrol prices to RM1.50 per litre and to control the rising cost of living.

This had resulted in the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government having to take it upon itself to solve the people’s grouses.

“Despite all this negative treatment, the Sarawak GPS government has risen to the occasion by giving all the solutions possible to help the rakyat.”

Idris said the GPS government was now forced to use its own money to build or repair bridges, roads and dilapidated schools.

“This is what we call a responsible government with the right positive attitude to serve the people,” he said. - FMT