By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Oct 21: Claiming that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will always choose Umno as its first choice partner, Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak said their decision on forming the next Federal government will always prioritise what is beneficial for the people of Malaysia and Sarawak.
DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen said this in responding to a question on whether or not Pakatan Harapan (PH) has any intention to form the next Federal government with GPS in the event PH fails to get a simple majority in the 15th General Election (GE15).
Chong however, said that he could not foresee the PH-GPS partnership.
“If GPS became the determining factor in who to be the Federal government, it (GPS) will always choose Umno because it is their ‘natural’ buddy.
“Birds of a feather flock together,” Chong told a press conference in response to the recent remarks by Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah that GPS does not mind working with any coalition or party from Peninsular Malaysia, except PH or DAP.
Chong, who is also Stampin incumbent, added that to GPS, the only natural and viable partner is Umno.
“They have been with Umno for the past 55 years before Umno became the Opposition.
“And when Umno was the Opposition, GPS went along with Umno as Opposition in the Parliament,” he said.
When the Sheraton Move occurred, Chong added that Umno became part of the Federal government and GPS joined Umno as part of the government.
“It seemed that for GPS, Umno is the natural and first choice partner,” he said.
On allegations of cut projects in Sarawak, Chong asserted that the projects reviewed during the 22 months of PH government were across the nation and not only confined to Sarawak.
“This is because those projects were awarded at unreasonably high prices, reaping obscene profits at the expense of taxpayers’ money. It was also one of the promises of PH to the people for winning the mandate in GE14, which we delivered,” he said.
He mentioned that among the other mega projects in Peninsula Malaysia being reviewed then include the East Coast Rail Line (ECRL), MRT 2, LRT 3 and Project Delivery Partner (PDP) role of the Pan Borneo Highway projects, with billions of ringgit being saved.
“It is clear that the PH goverment did not single out Sarawak but on the contrary, applied the principles of good governance, transparency and accountability across the nation on all previous government projects unreasonably priced,” he added. — DayakDaily
