KUCHING, Jan 17: A local political pundit has described Sarawak as a steady ship amidst the bad Malaysian political sea storm.
Dato Peter Minos said the political situation in the country is still messy due to the recent decision by the United Malays National Organisation’s (Umno) general assembly to prevent the Umno presidency from being contested and a plot to oust Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor as the chief minister in Sabah.
“For the peninsula, we thought the recent Umno general assembly would ease tensions in the federal unity government but the party’s decision that (president post held by Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) will not be contested, had gotten some people in Umno itself not pleased and unhappy. Many had started to say this and that especially now that Zahid is again facing the courts on many criminal charges.
“Even the Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim is being asked why a court cluster man is his deputy in the government and it is very tough for him to answer, being a known reformist and one that is against hanky-panky ministers and government servants. His credibility is being questioned and at stake and we hope he can overcome it all.
“We hope problems in Umno will not seriously and adversely affect the federal government and the prime minister’s position because we Malaysians just want political peace and stability and are sick of the ongoing political troubles and upheavals especially in the peninsula,” he said in a statement today.
Minos also opined that there seems to be “no political party loyalty” and “anything goes, at any time” in Sabah, adding that he hoped the present administration led by Hajiji and team would hang on and survive.
On the other hand, he said, Sarawak is a different case.
Minos said the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government under the leadership of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, is politically steady, stable and peaceful.
“Sarawak is like a steady ship in the stormy and bad Malaysian sea storm.
“There are a few characters who are bringing in the not-too-good peninsula political ways and cultures to Sarawak but GPS can control and ward them off.
“Nevertheless, GPS and Sarawakians must always be on alert and beware or else it will be like the peninsula and Sabah,” the former Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu deputy info chief added. — DayakDaily
