PH people’s first policy rules — Chong

KUCHING: State Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Chong Chieng Jen says the PH government is prioritising that the people should benefit first ahead of others.

“What is more important is the policy that the PH government will implement for the benefit the people in the state. Sarawakians holding ministerial posts in the federal cabinet is secondary,” he told a press conference at DAP headquarters here yesterday.

Chong added that Sarawakians would soon benefit from the zero-rated goods and services tax (GST), and fixed fuel prices despite the increase in international crude oil prices by 20 per cent.

He hoped Sarawakians would not jump into conclusion and question Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for not naming any Sarawakians in the federal cabinet.

Dr Mahathir announced the initial line-up of 14 ministers last Friday, but none from Sarawak.

Chong, who is also Stampin MP, said 11 more positions would be filled in the coming days, making the grand total of 25, as opposed to 37 in the previous government.

“Let’s not preempt what Dr Mahathir’s decision would be next.”

He said the PH government’s idea of 25 cabinet ministers was to reduce the number of ministries and ministers, and therefore to reduce spending.

“The previous government had too many ministries and ministers which were meant for political allegiance, rather then to really serve the country and people.”