GPS state govt continuing BN’s old ways – Chong

KUCHING: The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government is accused of continuing the old ways of Barisan Nasional (BN) administration when it comes to election strategy.

In stating his opinion yesterday, Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen said the strategy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg “is adopting to win the (next state) election is similar to what (former prime minister Datuk Seri) Najib (Tun Razak) did’.

Chong, who is Stampin MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman, said he had not seen the GPS government subscribing to transparency and good governance but seemed to be continuing the Barisan Nasional (BN) way of “splashing cash around” and “scare and oppression tactics”.

As such, he asserted that Sarawak should not remain an opposition state after the next Sarawak state election that is due in 2021.

The state Pakatan Harapan (PH) and state Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman said they regarded the next state election as “the most important Sarawak election in the history of the nation”.

According to him, the DAP Sarawak is formulating a strategy to take on GPS in the election “estimated to be held in two years although the election is due in 2021”.

“Sarawak should not continue to be an opposition state because this will hamper the development and the channelling of the welfare (aid) and benefits of the federal government to the people of Sarawak,” he said at a news conference after chairing the DAP state committee meeting at the party’s headquarters here yesterday.

Chong pointed out that one key principle that will guarantee the good of the general public “is transparency and good governance which the GPS government does not subscribe to”.