KUCHING, Aug 30: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) parliamentary chief whip Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof believed Sarawak Pakatan Harapan chairman Chong Chieng Jen is trying to shift the blame in the dilapidated schools issue.
He felt that the Stampin MP was trying to divert the subject, instead of trying to resolve issues concerning Sarawak especially the dilapidated schools situation in the state.
“Chong should answer why he and other Sarawak Pakatan leaders did not voice out their concerns when the budgets and development projects, which has already been approved for the state, were withdrawn after the last general election (GE14).
“Instead he tries to divert the issue, covering up for their failures by complaining about the issue.
“Chong should also answer for the unfulfilled promises made by Pakatan Sarawak in the GE14 Manifesto, to which he himself had promised 20 per cent oil royalty and 50 per cent of tax collected from the state if Pakatan successfully captures Putrajaya,” Fadillah said in a statement.
Touching on the core issue, the Petra Jaya MP said the dilapidated schools in the state had been addressed by the previous federal government following huge budget approved to fix them, but has since been withdrawn by the new Pakatan government.
“At least the state government is sincerely in fighting to ensure that the project to fix the dilapidated schools in the state would be continued.
“Not just now, but even before the GE14 when the previous federal government approved the budget to fix the dilapidated schools,” he continued.
Fadillah reminded Chong that education is under the purview of the federal government and not the state.
“Where is Chong’s sincerity? If you are sincere, why not fulfil the Pakatan manifesto for Sarawak? Why not fight for Sarawak’s rights when many development projects for Sarawak were withdrawn?
“Again I would like to remind Chong that education is under the jurisdiction of the federal government, not the state government.”
He cited those within the Pakatan coalition that had served as Education Ministers including Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (1974-1978), Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (1986-1991) and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (2009-2013 and 2013-2015).
“Thus, it is clear now that Chong’s ongoing criticism on the issue of dilapidated schools, which is currently being addressed by the state and federal governments together, is only intended to cover for the failure of Pakatan Sarawak,” he opined. — DayakDaily
