KUCHING: Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen has been slammed over his remarks about Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) costing Malaysia its chance of having the first East Malaysian prime minister (PM) as it did not support Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal for the post.
Charles Chad Nissom, a political secretary to the Chief Minister, said if Chong was firm in his belief that the Borneo states lost its chance by not nominating Shafie, then Sarawak DAP — having six MPs — should consider challenging Lim Guan Eng for the secretary-general post at national level.
“Chong is not only naive, but poor in mathematics. He could not read between the lines and that is why he couldn’t see the rationality.
“Of the 222 parliamentary seats, Sabah and Sarawak have 56 MPs while Malaya has 164 MPs. Two MPs seats are vacant for now following their representative’s death and no by-election being held as yet.
“Warisan only has eight seats while DAP has 42 and PKR has 35 seats.
“Simple logic, Shafie, if he were to be the PM nominee, with only eight MP seats to his credit, will look like a bullied puppet subscribing to DAP-PKR’s whims and fancies.
“It doesn’t take a genius to discover this DAP hidden agenda and intrigue.”
GPS on the other hand, he said, had a valid and tangible proposal by bargaining for a deputy PM post to be filled by a Sarawakian to reciprocate for what it did and contributed in the formation of Perikatan Nasional (PN) and the next federal government.
“It is a form of acknowledgment to Sarawak. If it comes true, it is history in the making as stated by Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing.”
Charles also said GPS had proven that its decision to be friendly with PN was a right move.
“Sarawak had been able to chart her own destinies and enhance her autonomy since the last general election in 2018, such as by imposing the State Sales Tax and seeing some degree of decentralisation of powers given back to Sarawak.
“Moreover, GPS’ role as kingmaker also cannot be sidelined.”
