KUCHING: A leader from Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) said there was no purpose in supporting former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng who had long turned their backs on Sarawak.
Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang reminded Sarawakians how Guan Eng said that Sarawak would go bankrupt and how Tun Mahathir said Sarawakians and Sabahan are lazy.
He said it was a matter of time that Sarawakians would realise that GPS is the only credible platform that Sarawakians can rely on to look after their interest.
He added that Sarawakians should give their full support to GPS not because the coalition is perfect but voting any other parties would weaken Sarawak’s political strength.
“Today Malaya is in disarray, hence Sarawakians must unite and take advantage of the circumstances to position ourselves to demand for the return of Sarawak rights as enshrined in the Malaysian Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the return of our oil and gas resources,” he said to New Sarawak Tribune yesterday.
Lo added that is exactly what the state leaders under Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg are doing.
He said Sarawak stands a better chance talking to the new Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Lo was commenting on GPS’ stand in supporting Muhyiddin as Malaysia’s eighth prime minister
Meanwhile, commenting on public concern with regard to PAS joining the National Alliance (Perikatan Nasional), Lo said there is nothing to fear because the state constitution guarantees freedom of language and religion.
“It was Tun Mahathir who failed to deport religious extremist Zakir Niik, while it was Datuk Seri Annuar Ibrahim who hosted a dinner for Zakir Naik.
“Was Zakir Naik ever allowed into Sarawak? No, because we never allow religious bigots and extremists into the state,” said Lo.
Lo said the establishment of Unit For Other Religion (Unifor) showed the sensitivity of the GPS state government towards religious freedom.
He said the chief minister pledged more than RM60 million for the development of churches and temples in Sarawak in 2020.
To the Chinese community, he reminded them not to forget that the state government under GPS has been supportive of them, starting from the previous chief minister, the late Tan Sri Adenan Satem who gave special allocations of RM3 million to Chinese schools in the state.
“Today this has been continued by Datuk patinggi Abang Johari who has given RM8 million this year,” Lo added.
