KUCHING: Sarawak Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Chong Chieng Jen, according to Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, is an expert when it comes to dangling the carrot.
The Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister said Chong had been making a lot of promises—even before the 2018 general election in the State Legislative Assembly or in public—but they were never fulfilled.
“He even told the Chief Minister then that if PH took over the government, Sarawak and the ruling party did not have to beg or jump into PH.
“Among his promises were an increase of oil royalty from five per cent to 20 per cent, and that 50 per cent of all taxes collected in Sarawak would be given back to Sarawak.
“It has been two years now since they took over the government…where are those promises now?” Abdul Karim said when asked to comment on Chong’s latest promise to issue land titles to a village.
On Sunday, Chong assured that Kampung Selangan Batu—which sits on state land—would be issued land titles if PH won the coming state election.
Abdul Karim said this kind of promise was common among politicians but stressed that he, being a politician himself, would not go to the extent of promising the moon.
He said that as the state election drew closer, more promises would be coming from Chong.
“Chong promises land grants if PH wins… ‘banyak pandai ini budak’ (this kid is very cunning).
“He knows people are gullible and that they will forget his old promises, so now he is making more new ones.
“That is why I think that when it comes to dangling the carrot, Chong is indeed an expert,” he added.