PAS lacks understanding, respect for Sarawak’s rights — Chong
KUCHING: State DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen says PAS vice president Idris Ahmad’s statement against his call to stop the import of Peninsular Malaysian Islamic teachers into Sarawak shows PAS’ total lack of understanding and respect for the rights of Sarawak in the Federation of Malaysia.
Idris had also claimed that Chong’s stand would cause calamity to Pakatan Harapan ( PH).
“For a start, I am surprised by the sudden show of concern by Idris Ahmad about the wellbeing of Pakatan Harapan. Has PAS leadership not been working together with Umno/BN of late to sabotage PH’s drive for a change of government?
“Wouldn’t it be the case that the alleged ‘calamity to Pakatan Harapan’ will fit into the agenda of PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang?” Chong, who is Bandar Kuching MP, asked in a press statement yesterday.
On his call to stop the import of Peninsular Malaysian Islamic teachers into Sarawak, Chong, who is also Kota Sentosa assemblyman, said it was based on two major considerations.
“Firstly, the infiltration of religious bigotry and extremism into Sarawak, thereby causing racial segregation and disharmony which is now one of the main problems in Peninsular Malaysia.
“Secondly, giving local Sarawakians priority for jobs in Sarawak. There are sufficient Sarawakians who have the necessary knowledge in Islam to teach Islamic education in Sarawak. However, they were not given the opportunities,” Chong said.
Chong noted that in January this year when the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department (Jais) advertised for ‘ Pegawai Perkhidmatan Pendidikan Gred DG43’ position, Jais had only two vacancies.
Yet, there were 4,438 applications for the said position, he added.
“It makes no sense for the government to ignore and turn a blind eye on all these applicants who are Sarawakians and yet imports 433 Islamic religious teachers from other states on the pretext that there is a shortage of such teachers.”
Chong said this policy of importing Peninsular Malaysian Islamic religious teachers into Sarawak by the BN government ran contrary to the interest of Sarawakians.
“I raised this matter in the interest of Sarawak, with a view to try to preserve the social harmony that we Sarawakians have enjoyed and are proud of thus far.”
According to Chong, PAS, by attempting to turn this issue into a ‘Muslims against non-Muslims issue’, is doing a disservice to Sarawak.
“PAS, like its new-found friend in Umno, is always trying to arouse religious dichotomy sentiments. That is why PAS will never be accepted in Sarawak.”