Bersatu in Sarawak means Putrajaya must take into account state's interests

Sarawak Pakatan Harapan chairperson Chong Chieng Jen said that with the entry of Bersatu into Sarawak, the central leadership in Putrajaya must take the interests of Sarawak into consideration.

Chong, who is also the opposition leader in the state, pointed out that the Bersatu branches in Sarawak will be led by Sarawakians in their own interest and survival in the long run.

"Now that Bersatu is coming in (into Sarawak), Bersatu branches in the state need the support of Sarawakians.

"I think Bersatu will pose a threat to BN, now GPS and especially PBB (in the state coalition). I think there will a breakthrough in the stronghold in the state and that's why they're getting very jittery," Chong told Malaysiakini at the sidelines after the launch last night.

The current ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) won in a landslide victory under the BN flag 72 out of 82 seats in the 2016 state election.

The late Adenan Satem was widely seen as the main factor for the success of pushing for greater autonomy for the state.

BN neglected Sarawak in the past

Training his guns on GPS, Chong opined that the previous ruling government was free to pass any laws and policies without taking into consideration the interests of the state.

"In the past, Umno is not in Sarawak and they (GPS) are free to pass and implement any policies as they are the big brother in the BN.

"Whatever they decide will go through, that's in the BN structure, they don't need Sarawak," he added.

The Stampin MP said that it is absolutely naive to say Umno is not in Sarawak, and that, therefore, the policies that Umno passed previously will not affect the state despite all these years.

The policies that Umno and BN passed in the previous government affect Sarawak tremendously despite having no branches in the state, he claimed.

Xenophobic tone

When asked about facing the growing xenophobic tone towards Peninsular Malaysia in Sarawak, Chong explained that such concerns have been raised previously.

The deputy minister of trade and consumer development said that the anti-Malaya sentiment came from the 55-year rule of BN.

He admitted that such strong sentiments exist in the state because Sarawakians felt that they have been neglected by GPS when they were in BN then.

"To tell people that they are out of BN and they are known as GPS now, they change their name; they are now the champion for Sarawak. I think that is a very wishful thinking.

"Given the recent political development, there is a chance of a change of government in Sarawak," Chong said when asked about facing the upcoming state election slated to be held the earliest in 2020. - Mkini