By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Sept 21: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing has described DAP’s accusation of GPS having a hidden agenda with PAS as something petty and lacking substance.
He stressed that there was nothing to get excited about with PAS’ president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s recent courtesy call on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at the latter’s office in Kuching last Tuesday.
Similarly, the Deputy Chief Minister reiterated that, he did not sense anything suspicious between Tourism, Art and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah when he visited Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong when the latter was admitted to the Normah Medical Centre recently.
“A meeting between Abdul Hadi with CM was nothing to get excited about. As I was not excited when Datuk Karim visited YB Violet Yong in Normah. I believe there was no hidden agenda between Karim and Violet Yong,” Masing told DayakDaily today.
Masing was rebutting Yong who had questioned why PRS maintained an undignified silence over the “unholy union” between Umno-PAS and GPS.
Yong had said PRS, the second-largest coalition party in GPS, seemed to have turned a blind eye over the photos splashed on the social media and news outlet of a smiling Abang Johari and Abdul Hadi.
She has also claimed that the image of the two leaders shaking hands when PAS delegation met up with Abang Johari seemed to have suggested an agreement to such a union.
“I am quite shocked that he is not condemning the cooperation between PAS and GPS. After all, in Sarawak, the majority of the people are Christians. Is Masing losing his plot?” Yong asked in her statement yesterday.
Besides Yong, Sarawak Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Chong Chieng Jen and Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii have also criticised GPS on similar issue.
Yesterday, Abang Johari had also described DAP’s accusation as being ‘shallow’ as Abdul Hadi was merely tagging along with Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar during the said courtesy call.
Meanwhile, Masing, who is also Ulu Rajang Development Agency (URDA) chairman, is currently leading a delegation consisting of elected representatives from URDA area, Regional Corridor of Renewable Energy (Recoda) chief executive officer Datu Ismawi Ismuni and Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) officers on a study tour to Lake Como, Italy, to find out their blueprint which makes Lake Como a very successful lake destination.
“We have a discussion with the Regional Authority of Lambardy led by its vice president Alan Rizzi. The issues discussed including their use of waste to create energy to power the nation’s energy needs. Their technology to put waste to energy is very advance,” he said.
He added that the surrounding land around the lake are also well utilised as eco-tourism destinations.
“Tourist destination around the lake began in earnest with the construction of the first big hotel in 1871, more than 100 years ago. What this means is that tourism destination doesn’t happen overnight. It requires planning and patience for a place to mature as tourist destination,” he emphasised.
He viewed that the success story of Lake Como, which is among Europe’s top destinations, could be applied to all the hydroelectric power (HEP) lakes in Sarawak such as Murum, Bakun, Balleh and Batang Ai.— DayakDaily
