By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, May 20: Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen (PH-DAP) and Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Lim Guan Eng should apologise to Sarawakians for being rude and boastful, looking down on Sarawak’s capacities when Pakatan Harapan (PH) won the 14th General Election (GE14) in 2018.
Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang (GPS-SUPP) said this in reference to Lim’s statement saying that Sarawak would go bankrupt in three years during the latter’s visit to Kuching in 2019, which Chong defended yesterday, asserting that Sarawak did not go bankrupt because Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg abolished the Light Rail Transit (LRT) project which will cause a dent in Sarawak’s coffers.
Lo said that Sarawak has a huge reserve of RM30 billion and still has RM29 billion even after the pandemic.
“As far as I remember, Penang, where Chong’s boss is, only has a reserve of less than RM2 billion. Penang’s undersea tunnel costs RM6.3 billion, while our ART (Autonomous Rail Transit) project will cost about RM6 billion. Based on that simple analogy, who is going to go bankrupt first? Penang.
“Lim Guan Eng should look after his backyard first before picking on Sarawak. And Chong should be smart enough to take care of Sarawak, to defend Sarawak. What was that saying that Sarawak would go bankrupt? Sarawak has the biggest reserve in the whole of Malaysia,” Lo said during a press conference at the sideline of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today, supported by nine other Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) lawmakers and leaders.
Lo pointed out that during Lim’s time as the Finance Minister, the latter had slashed multiple projects in Sarawak, which cost millions of ringgit, but Abang Johari has kept to his word.
“This is Anak Sarawak. Yes, we did not go ahead with LRT, but we went ahead with ART which is a far better version,” said Lo.
The project, he said, consists of a few phases where the first phase involved the Samarahan Line, which covers a distance of about 28km from Rembus to the city centre, and the Serian Line (24km) from Mile 12 of Kuching-Serian Road to Isthmus Road. The project is in its infant stage and is expected to be operational in stages around 2025.
“Lim Guan Eng and DAP obviously have no interest in Sarawak in their mind. In the 22 months of PH’s rule, projects big and small was abolished in Sarawak. Promises made, including the recognition of MA63, were conveniently brushed aside. What is the excuse? Manifesto Pakatan Harapan is not the Bible.
“Such is the haughty attitude of PH and DAP. No credibility and zero sincerity. My advice to Chong, Lim Guan Eng and his Malaya DAP — fulfil the empty promises you made to Sarawak’s people first before you set foot in Sarawak ever again. Stay away from Sarawak,” said Lo.
Following that, he and the rest of the SUPP assemblymen and leaders shouted out together in one voice — “Stay away from Sarawak”. — DayakDaily
