By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 11: Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen asserted that his mandate in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) is to amplify the voices of the people, including dissent, and not to speak pleasing things to the ears of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
In the face of recent criticism from GPS members, he called on elected members to learn to respect and appreciate differing perspectives within the assembly, rather than attempting to silence dissenting views and voices.
His statement comes in response to Tupong assemblyman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman’s remarks during his debate on the TYT Address in the DUS Sitting yesterday (May 10), where Fazzrudin suggested that Chong should refrain from expressing his stance during the motion to honour the late Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Chong maintained his stand that Taib was a controversial figure during his tenure as the Sarawak chief minister.
“Though he has contributed to the development of Sarawak, he had also allowed the erosion of Sarawak’s rights under MA63 (Malaysia Agreement 1963) during his tenure. Governance was also a big concern during his time,” he said.
With 80 out of 82 elected members supporting the motion, Chong stressed that it is only proper and befitting that at least two members speak for the people who do not agree with the motion and recorded their dissenting views.
“The brickbats from the GPS elected members against me only shows the arrogance and bullying mentality of GPS after having commanded 80 out of 82 seats in the Assembly,” he said.
This pattern, Chong emphasised, is detrimental to democracy in Sarawak and does not serve the interests of the common people.
“It only further accentuates the urgent need for more check and balance in DUS Sarawak,” he added. — DayakDaily
