KUCHING, April 6: Instead of proactively criticising the Sarawak government, Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen should instead take proactive action in fighting for Sarawak’s business community, says Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Women chief Kho Teck Wan.
Kho said this in response to Chong’s recent statement expressing his disappointment over the absence of Sarawakian businesses in Prime Minister Dato Sri Anwar Ibrahim-led visit to China that managed to secure a record RM170 billion worth of investment commitment from China.
In turn, Kho also expressed disappointment in Chong who is from the same coalition party with Anwar, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) that is leading the country, for being incapable of fighting for Sarawak’s business community, more so when Kuching, Miri, Sibu and Stampin are represented by PH.
“It is embarrassing and disappointing to know that Chong, as the PH Sarawak chairman and a Member of Parliament (MP) of Stampin with a large business community concentration was not included in Anwar’s entourage to China.
“DAP has the highest number of MPs, with 40 of them in the Federal government, out of which five are from DAP Sarawak. Why doesn’t Chong question his own PH chairman on the lack of Sarawakian participation in the historic signing of MOUs (Memorandums of Understanding) between Malaysia and China.
“Instead, YB Chong blamed the lack of Sarawak’s representatives on SUPP with merely two MPs in the government,” she said in a statement today.
Anwar, who visited China recently to deepen the strategic bilateral political and trade relationship between the two countries, witnessed a total of 19 MOUs sealed between businesses in China and Malaysia, including in the petrochemical and automotive industries.
Unlike what was claimed by Chong, Kho pointed out that SUPP president and Deputy Premier Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian was part of Malaysia’s envoy during former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s visit to China in 2016.
More importantly, she added that Sarawak led by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government had recorded China-Sarawak trade volume of RM27.05 billion in 2021, despite the disruption to business activities due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
As such, Kho urged Chong to take real actions but not just lip service by conveying Sarawak business community’s concerns to Anwar.
“After all, he (Chong) is elected by the businessmen in Stampin and Padungan. Only through real concrete action can people benefit,” she reminded. — DayakDaily
