KUCHING, May 8: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s recent statement that issues over caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor have nothing to do with Sarawak is irresponsible, says state Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PRK) chairman Baru Bian.
In a statement yesterday, Baru pointed out that these issues are not mere idle gossip, but stem from Najib’s corruption scandals, which have been investigated and reported in many foreign countries.
“They involve large amounts of the rakyat’s money, and more importantly, questions about the integrity of the caretaker prime minister, governance of the country, the people’s trust and confidence in the government and leadership, and the impact on the economy.
“The implications of this criminal breach of trust cannot be dismissed offhand the way Abang Jo is doing,” said the Opposition leader who is running for the Selangau seat in this general election.
Baru said it is impossible to distance Sarawak from all these as Sarawak is part of Malaysia and whatever happens in Semenanjung Malaysia affects Sarawakians.
“Did we not have Sarawakians in Najib’s cabinet? Najib was our Prime Minister too for 10 years.
“Federal government policies and actions have a direct impact on us. The conduct of our Prime Minister has an impact on us. Our healthcare, education, infrastructure and various amenities are under the purview of the federal government, and due to the perpetual inadequate allocation from them, our people have been suffering for years.”
Instead of blaming former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir for our woes, Baru said Abang Johari should ask what his predecessors and the Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders had done to fight for Sarawakians’ rights, as they were duty-bound to do.
“We know Abang Jo is caught between the devil and the big blue sea, stuck between a rock and a hard place. Najib is a huge liability for BN now, and Abang Jo feels compelled to distance Sarawak from him, but at the same time, he is forced to defend him.
“However, Sarawakians are not so stupid to accept such a ridiculous statement and the CM should not try to deny the obvious as it only paints him as a party stooge for BN and Najib and Rosmah,” he added.
For Abang Johari to really distance himself from Najib, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) candidates should leave BN and contest under their own logo as PBB is part of the BN (of which Najib’s UMNO is the major component party), said Baru.
Abang Johari is the president of PBB which is the backbone of Sarawak BN. — DayakDaily
