KUCHING, March 3: Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak has failed to learn its lesson from the downfall of the previous Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, opines Kuching Team Dynamic (KTD) leader Eric Tay.
According to Tay, it was the internal split within PH that caused the collapse of the federal government which was in power for 21 months.
“For this, PH, particularly DAP should blame themselves for their own conflicting agendas, self-interests, greed for power and blatant disregard for the peoples’ interest. Nonetheless, they pointed their fingers at others,” Tay asserted in a statement.
Referring to remarks by a number of Sarawak DAP leaders likening Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) supporting Perikatan Nasional (PN) as cooperation with ‘kleptocrats’ and religious extremists, Tay opined such remarks is akin to intimidating the people of Sarawak.
“Isn’t it true that DAP itself was once in alliance with PAS, whom they are now tagging as ‘religious bigots’? In fact, the political stance of DAP is swinging left and right, proven by shifting their support from Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad within a day. This reflects their nature, prioritising their own position over principles and peoples’ interest,” he added.
Tay also claimed DAP had failed to act as a check and balance during the previous PH administration, with the nation’s economy experiencing a recession while the stock market has declined to below the support level of 1,600.
He also claimed that foreign investors have showed a low level of confidence in the former PH government as the country’s economic growth rate has fallen from 4.4 per cent in the third quarter to 3.6 per cent in the fourth quarter.
“Since the PH government didn’t live up to expectations of the people, coupled with its intense internal conflict, what else can DAP Sarawak offer to get GPS’s (Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s) support in securing their governing position? Could it be the condition as proposed by DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen by giving way to GPS in the coming state election?” Tay questioned, labelling such a move as an under-the-table political deal tantamount to a travesty of democracy which attempts to wipe out the power of voters.
He also stressed that the interest of Sarawak should be of utmost consideration, referring to GPS’s support for Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as playing the role of ‘kingmaker’.
He opined this would be more beneficial to Sarawakians in the negotiations between GPS and Muhyiddin as compared to what he perceived as PH’s reluctance and procrastination in returning Sarawak’s rights and autonomy.
Meanwhile, Tay expressed hope that GPS will seize this opportunity to fight for the interest of Sarawakians in the cabinet.
He urged Muhyiddin to embody his vow to be ‘the Prime Minister for all’ and called on the new government to abandon previous race-based preferential policies and give all Malaysians fair, equal and reasonable opportunities to compete based on ability. — DayakDaily
