KUCHING, August 29: Sarawak Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Chong Chieng Jen has denied there is an agreement to appoint him as chief minister of Sarawak should PH take over the state in the next state polls, which is due in 2021.
“Sarawak PH and the national body have never discussed the candidate for CM Sarawak.
“This is another piece of fake news to cause discord and unnecessary arguments among PH component parties,” said Chong, who is also Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, in a statement today.
He pointed out that PH was now focussing on the administration and survival of the nation.
“For the time being, we, leaders of PH, are focusing on the administration of the country to save the country from the wreckage caused by the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government,” said Chong.
In terms of Sarawak, he said the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) should bear the responsibility for the state’s general backwardness.
“GPS is the main culprit why many parts of Sarawak are still so backward in terms of development, while former BN leaders have all accumulated astronomical wealth for themselves.
“Like the national aspect, we also need a change of state government to stop exploitation of the rakyat’s rights and state’s wealth by the GPS government,” said Chong, who is also Kota Sentosa assemblyman and Stampin MP.
SarawakVoice had reported that Chong would be made chief minister of Sarawak if PH won in the next state polls. SarawakVoice had picked up the ‘news’ from Malaysiakini, which quoted Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Kedah deputy chief Anuar Abdul Hamid as saying there was such an agreement between PH component parties even before the May 9 election.
“In that agreement, Bersatu will lead in Kedah, Perlis, Perak and Johor, with PKR in Selangor, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan.
“Meanwhile, DAP will rule Pulau Pinang, Federal Territory and Sarawak, leaving Amanah with Kelantan, Terengganu and Malacca,” Anuar was quoted as saying. — DayakDaily
