By Nigel Edgar
KUCHING, May 2: A verbal spat erupted between Lo Khere Chiang (GPS-Batu Kitang) and Chong Chieng Jen (PH-Kota Sentosa) today after the former accused the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government of making U-turns after taking over Putrajaya.
Lo was debating the TYT speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting and directed his criticisms at Chong.
“Promises made were not kept and the people are fed-up because they have been made to look like fools for believing PH would deliver. I also want to ask the member for Kota Sentosa (Chong), so where are the 50 per cent tax refund, the 20 per cent oil royalty and the return of autonomy on health and education that he was shouting about from the rafters in this very DUN before the 14th General Elections (GE14)?
“Ask yourself, how many U-turns of election promises have PH made since they took over the government? What are the PH members of this house doing about this?” Lo asked.
Upon being permitted to answer the allegations, Chong said some changes had to be made to the promises as a response to the feedback of the people.
“Yang Berhormat from Batu Kitang (Lo) asked me how many U-turns have PH made since the election. I can give you an answer about the policies that we have done and policies that we made adjustments because of the response of the people … because we listen to the cries of the people. That is why we made changes.
“Number 1, on the abolishment of the death sentence, it was in our manifesto, but because we listen to the people’s opinions, voices, they said they don’t want the abolishment of the death sentence, and, therefore, we made adjustments,” said Chong.
As for the oil issue, Chong said he had already talked about it during his debate in the morning session, but Lo was absent then.
Before Chong could continue, Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar interrupted him by saying Ripin Lamat (GPS-Lambir) wanted to pose questions.
Ripin questioned if the state PH had ever raised the issue in Parliament and obtained written irrevocable approval from the federal government after making the promised offer to Sarawak prior to GE14.
To that, Chong replied: “This was an offer made by PH Sarawak and with the approval of PH National. This is in our manifesto with the consent of the PH National.
“Secondly, our offer was rejected by GPS because GPS wants only the money but don’t want the responsibility to take charge and manage our education and healthcare.”
Before Chong could continue, the Speaker interrupted again for Lo to continue.
Lo kept reiterating on the unkept promises of the PH government as well as the economic uncertainties after PH came to power.
He lauded Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg for being considerate to Chinese schools in the state as well as working hard to reclaim the state’s rights based on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the Federal Constitution.
Lo also lauded the effort by the late Chief Minister, Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, for kickstarting it all before the state’s leadership was taken over by Abang Johari. — DayakDaily
