Sarawak DAP: BN parties playing to the gallery

“It is the trend and tendency for BN coalition parties in Sarawak to play to the gallery. They say one thing when in Sarawak but remain silent in Parliament and even in the Senate where it matters most.”

Dr Kelvin Yii, special assistant to state DAP chairperson Chong Chieng Jen said this during a press conference at party headquarters in Kuching today.

Accompanied by Pakatan Harapan Youth chairperson Mordi Bimol and Abdul Aziz Isa, who is also Chong’s special assistant, Yii said SUPP and other BN-affiliated parties in the state were subservient to the current administration.

Taking a swipe at SUPP president Dr Sim Kui Hian, Yii claimed that on April 1, Sim reportedly told the Kuching Division Journalists’ Association annual dinner “that there was no need for Parliament to rush into passing the Anti-Fake News Bill 2018”.

“However, the bill was passed in Parliament on April 2 even though BN Sarawak has full ministers in the cabinet and 25 BN parliamentary members from Sarawak.

“All of them voted for the passing of the bill, neglecting the wishes of the people of Sarawak as well as failing to protect their rights as intended by the founding fathers of Sarawak during the state’s formation in 1963.

“Based on the Hansard record on April 3, there is no record of Sim objecting or even debating the bill in the Senate,” Yii added.

'Rights not protected'

Yii said it must also be noted that Richard Riot who is a full federal minister from SUPP also voted for the passing of the bill.

“If Sim was serious about his concerns over the Bill, he had every power to ask Riot to vote against it or push for it to be further debated.

“The issue could have been raised both, in the cabinet meetings and also in parliament, but he failed to do so at both levels,” said Yii.

“The passing of this Bill is proof that the parliamentarians and elected leaders especially those from BN Sarawak have failed to protect our sacred right that is not just enshrined in our Federal Constitution, but also the rights intended for the people of the state,” he added.

Yii pointed out that Sarawak’s 18-point agreement based upon the Nine Cardinal Principles of the rule of the English Rajah clearly stated that the right of freedom of expression both in speech and writing shall be permitted and encouraged. - Mkini