KUCHING, Aug 23: Democratic Action Party (DAP) assemblywoman Violet Yong claimed that the latest State Cabinet reshuffle is sending the wrong signals to Sarawakians.
In a media release today, she expressed puzzlement over the reappointment of Mambong assemblyman Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, who is currently party-less after resigning from Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), as Assistant Transport Minister.
“It is quite obvious that there is no power sharing among the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Sarawak coalition. Dr Jerip being an independent is still rewarded a position in the Cabinet,” she said.
“Maybe GPS is telling all its members that it is alright for them to resign and become independent and still be given position in the Cabinet. Now Sarawakians will have to see for themselves which GPS component party will Dr Jerip join,” she opined.
“If Dr Jerip joins Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) then there is a loud message that PBB is no longer playing by coalition rules of power sharing, but turning into a new Umno in Sarawak,” added Yong who is Pending assemblywoman.
PBB by itself, she emphasised, was already able to form a state government on its own while the rest of the components were just “peanut parties playing second fiddle and have no bite”.
If Dr Jerip joins Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Yong sees that the greatest loser will be the Dayak-based Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) which has 11 state seats but has only one full minister who is also a Deputy Chief Minister (Tan Sri James Jemut Masing).
“Our Dayak brothers and sisters will definitely be disappointed in this reshuffle,” she said.
“While the Chinese have lost its long time position of deputy chief minister thanks to SUPP former president Datuk Patinggi Dr George Chan, to rub salt on wound, SUPP has also lost its traditional Second Finance Minister, which is a loss to all Chinese,” she added.— DayakDaily
