By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, May 20: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Vice President Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah views Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chief Chong Chieng Jen as mischievous and naughty for accusing Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) of betraying Sarawakians after it joined the Perikatan Nasional (PN) federal government which also includes Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) and Umno.
He reminded Chong that DAP was once “sleeping partners” with PAS during the time of Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
“It’s very naughty, very mischievous for YB Chong to say that GPS now is working together with a government that is led by UMNO and PAS (and that) they (GPS) have betrayed Sarawak.
“He (Chong) must have a short memory. He has forgotten that DAP was sleeping partners with PAS during the time of the Pakatan Rakyat. There were so many elections in Sarawak and by-elections also, whereby the flags of DAP and the flags of PAS were (put) together during the nomination days.
“They had been bed partners when they were under PR. They were not in the government but then they were working together to bring down Barisan Nasional.
“And when they were together with PAS, it looked very okay. And suddenly, when they are not together with PAS, suddenly PAS becomes a monster. Everything is bad about PAS. Everything is bad about Umno,” Karim told DayakDaily in an interview at his office at Bangunan Baitulmakmur today.
Abdul Karim who is Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture questioned Chong, when DAP formed an alliance with PAS under PR, did Chong ever think of PAS as “religious bigots”.
He continued to point out that without realising it, DAP was still working together with members of former PAS who have now become members of Parti Amanah Malaysia (Amanah) including its president Mohamad Sabu (Mat Sabu) and leader such as Khalid Abdul Samad.
To Abdul Karim, DAP used to see all of them – Mat Sabu, Khalid and current PAS general secretary Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan as “bigots”.
“But now they (Mat Sabu and Khalid) are sleeping partners with DAP (in Pakatan Harapan). Why are you not attacking them who are also ex-PAS staunch members? But you are hitting at the existing PAS?” Abdul Karim questioned.
Yesterday in a press statement, Chong alleged that GPS had betrayed Sarawakians by supporting the PN coalition which enabled PAS and Umno to be part of the federal government.
“GPS has betrayed Sarawak by putting PAS in federal power, jeopardising the secularism of Sarawak and Malaysia.
“What they have done now by supporting the Umno PAS government is not only putting the corrupt regime back in power but at the same time, the GPS is putting the religious bigots of PAS in power who is definitely a threat. This has thereby undermining Sarawak’s multi-racial and multi-religious social structure,” said Chong yesterday. — DayakDaily
