Get your facts right, SUPP and political secretary told

KUCHING: Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP) and a political secretary to chief minister Michael Tiang should get their facts right before alleging that the newly minted Democratic Action Party (DAP) Central Executive Committee (CEC) only has three per cent worth of significance in the party in as far as Sarawak is concerned.

Bandar Kuching MP special assistant Dr Kelvin Yii said it's important that Tiang does his homework properly. There are two Sarawak representatives in the CEC - Chong Chieng Jen as vice-president and Dr John Brian Anthony a committee member.

“This equals to seven per cent of the whole committee, and if you add in the members of Sabah, we comprise close to 14 per cent of the whole committee,” Dr Yii said in a press statement received here yesterday.

Tiang, in a press conference on Tuesday, said that state DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen is the only Sarawakian in CEC lineup.

Dr Yii said while it's important to have the numbers in a party or committee, what is even more important are the policies and structures; whether they uphold the interest of the people and the interest of the state.

“There is no point if a party claims to be all Sarawakians but has no voice to uphold the interest of the people and worst still, are the ones that sold off the rights and interest of the people in the first place.”

He said what's more important is not the representation, but the policy of the party itself.

“DAP is aparty that champions the return of the 20 per cent oil royalty as well as 50 per cent of all taxes collected in Sarawak, which are included in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) manifesto.

“The people of Sarawak do not need to beg for allocations from the federal government because when PH form the federal government, we have promised to give such financial autonomy to the state as well as autonomy in education and healthcare.”

In noting that DAP and PH champion the interests of all Malaysians without forsaking the interest of Sabah and Sarawak, Dr Yii said that in their manifesto, they also promised allocations for development to Sabah and Sarawak amounting to RM75 billion to catch up with the development in Peninsular Malaysia.

“What is most important for a political party is its policy and track record of fighting for the rights and interests of the people. DAP and PH's track record of fighting against corruption, wastage, and bad governance is good and in the interest of Sarawak. DAP's track record of fighting against taxes like Goods and Services Tax (GST) again is beneficial to Sarawak,” he said.