Chong wants CM to be transparent on immigration claim

KUCHING: Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen wants Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to be specific and transparent by naming the deputy minister whom he claimed proposed that Sarawak's immigration rights be abolished.

Chong, who is also Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, said Abang Johari should not make a general statement that could create suspicions or innuendos against anyone, especially at the federal level.

"I think his (Abang Johari’s) intention is to smear my name as I am the only Deputy Minister from Sarawak...I have not seen or spoken to him for the past two months.

"I don't think any Sarawakian, be it deputy minister, minister, Member of Parliament, assemblymen or even ordinary Sarawakians will harbour the idea of abolishing immigration autonomy that Sarawak enjoys," he told a media conference after the opening of the 18th Sarawak State Ordinary Convention 2018 by DAP National Organising Secretary Anthony Loke here yesterday.

He was commenting on the statement by Abang Johari on Saturday claiming that there were moves to abolish Sarawak’s immigration rights, enshrined under the Constitution and Malaysia Agreement (MA63), and that the proposal was conveyed to him by a certain Deputy Minister recently.

Chong also said that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)led government was playing up the regionalism sentiment to stay in power by claiming that the state was ill-treated and only a Sarawak party could defend the rights of Sarawakians.

Meanwhile, Loke, who is also Transport Minister, told reporters that as far as the Cabinet was concerned, the issue of taking away Sarawak's immigration rights was never raised and the onus now was on returning the rights of Sarawak and Sabah as stipulated under the MA63.

He said it would only be fair for the Chief Minister to name the person being implicated so that the person involved could reply to the allegations and explain what had actually transpired.

"Even as a federal minister, I still have to go through immigration (when entering Sarawak) and furnish my identity card...no question about it," he said. - Bernama