By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Oct 31: Community leader Datuk Richard Wee agrees that the Chinese community, in general, is still supportive of the Pakatan Harapan-led federal government.
He said the Chinese community was giving the federal government time to settle down, but he cautioned that ‘general disappointment’ was brewing within the community.
“As for the Chinese community, it is correct that, generally, they still support the new federal government. The most common reason given is that that they (the federal government) needs more time, they are doing their best, etc. But when you try to engage them with more specific matters, then their tone changes.
“So, I think, there is a general disappointment in the Chinese community, but is slowly brewing, and if the PH government does not realise it, then it will come back to haunt them.
“If the PH government does not address it, it will be at their own peril,” Wee, who is Federation of Chinese Associations of Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Divisions president, told Dayakdaily.
While PH needed to fulfil its election promises, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), on the other hand, would need to come out with new initiatives that will benefit the people.
“As for GPS, they would need to come up with new initiatives similar to what YAB (Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg) had announced during ‘Lan Berambeh’ in Kuala Lumpur (recently).
“But they (the initiatives) may need to be more comprehensive, to include land, healthcare and all people-centric and caring policies in a form of manifesto like the Orange Book or Buku Harapan to convince the voters, especially the Chinese community, of their pledges and commitments to the people of Sarawak to win their support,” he opined.
Wee was commenting on the result of a survey done by Associate Professor Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi of University Malaya.
According to Awang Azman, the survey result showed that 70 per cent of Sarawakians support GPS.
In terms of racial breakdown, he said 80 per cent of Malay/Melanau and 60 to 70 per cent of Ibans support GPS. On the other hand, 80 per cent of the Chinese and 60 to 70 per cent of Bidayuh support PH.
In general, Wee said his personal assessment did not differ much from that of Awang Azman’s, but there is a difference in percentages.
“I do not know the basis of his survey. I can only assume that he is basing it on the GE14 election results as his baseline.
“Personally, I do not have much to differ from his assessment, but I think the percentage allocated might be different,” said Wee. — DayakDaily
