‘BATTLE OF THE CENTURY’ TO UNSEAT TAIB MAHMUD & CO BEGINS – PAKATAN ON THE DEFENSIVE AS SARAWAK STATE ELECTIONS LOOM: THINK BEYOND LONGHOUSE, RACE & RELIGION – ANWAR

SARAWAK Pakatan Harapan must counter racial and religious sentiments in the lead-up to the state polls, said Anwar Ibrahim.

The PKR president said PH not only wants change at the federal level, but also in Sarawak, calling on the pact’s state chapter to unite.

“We cannot move forward as a nation if we cannot think beyond our longhouses, or racial or religious denominations… we can only succeed if we have a sense of justice and compassion, which reflects our humanity.

“And, Sarawakians must move as a single, united force to reject any form of racist agenda or religious bigotry,” he told a PH event in Kuching last night.

Present were Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and PKR vice-present Zuraida Kamaruddin.

Also in attendance were state PKR chairman Baru Bian, and state PH and DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen.

Earlier, Muhyiddin said Sarawak folk have the power to “correct” the state’s political scenario in the next state elections, due in 2021 at the latest.

“The people of Sarawak have high ambitions and hopes, but unfortunately, today, the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak… does not want to establish cooperation (with PH) for progress.”

Mohamad, meanwhile, expressed confidence that the state will continue to grow, saying issues can be resolved with cooperation.

He warned against the “import” of racial issues played up in the peninsula, especially by the opposition Umno and PAS. – Bernama

Sarawak Pakatan chief says coalition must win coming state polls

SARAWAK Pakatan Harapan (PH) chief Chong Chieng Jen told supporters at their Harapan Sarawak Baru dinner in Kuching tonight that the coalition “has to win” the 2021 Sarawak elections to remove their greatest threat in the next general election.

Chong, who described the state election as the “battle of the century”, said one of the biggest threats PH could face in the next general election is the new Umno-PAS political alliance.

However, he said the Umno-PAS alliance, which he dubbed the “unholy coalition”, cannot win power without the help of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

Chong said PH must therefore defeat the “third component party to this unholy union”.

Earlier, he had fired up the mood of the party stalwarts by telling the GPS government loud and clear, “here we come”.

The dinner saw the presence of most PH component party leaders for the first time in the state.

PKR was represented by its president Anwar Ibrahim, DAP by its longest serving MP Lim Kit Siang, Muhyiddin Yassin for Bersatu and Mohamad Sabu for Amanah.

Just as he promised, Anwar raised the issue of deforestation and logging in the state.

He said the logging industry had not only deforested the state, it had also benefitted only a few people.

Anwar said the country must therefore have the political conviction to stop deforestation.

“Instead, we must have reforestation and a plan to comply with the Paris agreement (on climate change),” he said.

The prime minister-designate said if Malaysia is in compliance with the Paris agreement, then it would be easier for the country to secure funding from western nations on reforestation programmes.

Anwar also urged Sarawakians to reject racism and religious bigotry that are so prevalent in the peninsula.

“Sarawak must reject them. We can never succeed as a nation if we can’t think beyond our longhouse, race and religion.”

– https://www.themalaysianinsight.com