KUCHING, May 5: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg urged the local Chinese community to discard ideologies brought in by peninsula-based political parties that could hinder the state government’s effort to unite the community here.
He said a united Chinese community would mean a stronger voice for them in both federal and state governments.
This, he pointed out, could be achieved by voting for Sarawak-based political parties like Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) in the coming general election (GE14).
“This is the time for the Chinese to be united. I was in Sibu recently and the Chinese community there seems very united.
“While you are united you will be part and parcel of the government, and you will have a strong voice in Putrajaya, which is what we want for Sarawak,” Abang Johari said during the opening of the MJC Batu Kawah Sejiwa Senada 2018 programme here this morning.
With that, he urged the Chinese community to set aside their differences, discard negative ideologies from the peninsula, and vote for SUPP candidates in GE14, a component of Barisan Nasional (BN) which already has a track record of bringing development to the various constituencies it oversees.
“No fighting amongst each other. The Malayans (Peninsular Malaysians) want to fight with each other let them be. As long as they don’t involve Sarawakians. We Sarawakians just focus on our own development.
“That is why we don’t allow Kuala Lumpur or peninsula-based parties to come over here. We have our own culture. Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) working together with SUPP. Now SUPP is all united, no more UPP (United People’s Party). The Chinese are united.
“People will take advantage of you (Chinese) if you are weak. But if the Chinese are strong and united, the government will work more with the Chinese. I do not want to run the state without the Chinese because they are also Sarawakians,” said Abang Johari.
He reiterated what the late Chief Minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem said a while back, that the Sarawakian Chinese were not immigrants but true and blue Sarawakians like other races in Sarawak.
“You are Sarawakians. We work together. We have been mixing together for a long time, going to the same schools together with the Malays, Ibans, Bidayuhs, and like what Adenan said, go to ‘kopitiam’ to drink together, eat together, ‘cari amoi’ (find girls) also together. Some even got married to his ‘amoi’ and have (ethnically) mixed children. That is our culture. Why do we need to fight each other over issues from the peninsula?” said Abang Johari.
He also highlighted some of the developments brought in by BN through SUPP to the Stampin parliamentary constituency, where SUPP candidate Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian will be contesting against Democratic Action Party’s (DAP) Chong Chieng Jen, who is also DAP Sarawak chairman.
Abang Johari highlighted the flood mitigation projects, new road connections including bridges as well as the opening up of more land for further development in Stampin which would include the proposed Light Rail Transit (LRT) route.
“We are also constantly developing Batu Kawah. The new roads and bridges you see, those were done by none other than the state BN. Please appreciate it as we will continue to do it (development projects),” said Abang Johari. — DayakDaily
