KUCHING: Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang expressed his disappointment with the entry of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) to Sarawak as it completes the dominance of Malaya politics in Sarawak.
Lo feared that history will repeat itself as Dayaks will be promised a Dayak chief minister and that their NCR lands would be recognised which will swing the votes to Bersatu.
“In the past, there were honourable
Dayaks such as Tun Jugah and Stephen Kalong Ningkan fighting for Sarawak. So the “fights” must continue to ensure Sarawak does not fall under PH,” he said.
Lo also wondered if Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir was setting his eyes again to turn Bintulu into a federal territory, which would mean more lands would be taken away?
“If my memory serves me right, Tun Mahathir did mention in the past that Bintulu could be turned into a federal territory.
“We also have a big piece of land at Telaga Air taken over by the federal government during Tun M’s first tenure as PM. Sarawakians have to be careful. In the past, there were many local banks but now everything is controlled by the federal government. I wish to ask Tun Mahathir whether he agrees with Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) being recognised in Sarawak. We did it, Tok Nan did it. Universiti Tun Abdul Razak (Utar) produced so many professionals recognised worldwide but the federal
government discouraged and reduced vital finances to Chinese schools,” he added.
Lo is also worried that if PH take over the state government UEC’s recognition would be the first thing that Tun Dr Mahathir scrap.
“Will Tun M agree with Sarawak having immigration control? Lo asked, adding that in 2015 Housing and
Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said that if the federal government were to take over the Sarawak government, they would abolish the state’s immigration rights.
Lo also pointed out that when Tun Mahathir was in Bintulu he had asked Sarawak not to insist on 20% oil royalty and added that if it was “promised” in a manifesto, it would be of no use.
“He will just say a manifesto is not the Holy
book. This is before the state election. So we need to ask ourselves whether the Pan Borneo Highway project will continue after the state election. Definitley not. It is also possible that after the state election anyone who talks about MA63 and PD74 is likely to be jailed.
“DAP has been fighting Umno for decades and Sarawak has fought successfully to keep Umno out for decades.
“Chong has fallen to the tricks of the Trojan horse. Umno will crawl out of the Trojan horse in the night when all is quiet to take over Sarawak. And Chong is sitting so proudly beside someone who does not
respect anything he says and who will not back him up.
Lo also asked: “So how can our country advance when to this day we have submitted ourselves to be led by race-based politics and leadership when we know that meritocracy with one common objective of helping the poor, the destitute, desolate and the less fortunate is the ingredient needed for the country to be competitive?.”
