Change meaningless if no clear change in policies — Chong

KUCHING: Sarawak Pakatan Harapan ( PH) chairman Chong Chieng Jen says Gabungan Parti Sarawak ( GPS) is meaningless unless there is a clear change of policies by the Sarawak government.

He said no matter what name the four parties call themselves, they are still the same old component parties of the Sarawak Barisan Nasional ( BN), practising the same old BN policies.

“Unless there is a clear change of policies by the Sarawak government, a mere change of name from Sarawak BN to GPS is meaningless,” Chong said in response to a decision made by the Sarawak BN to form a new entity, GPS.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, who is Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu ( PBB) president, yesterday announced that the four Sarawak BN component parties - PBB, Parti Rakyat Sarawak ( PRS), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and Progressive Democratic Party ( PDP – have made a unanimous decision to leave BN and form GPS, a new coalition of Sarawak-based parties.

Abang Johari, among others, believed it was timely and appropriate for Sarawak to embark on a new political platform, going forward in order to face challenges in line with the aspirations, needs and demands of a very wide range of cross- section of Sarawak’s multicultural and multi-religious people.

Chong, who is Stampin MP, also said only about a month ago, the four political parties were all singing praises for Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and BN.

“SUPP president Dr Sim Kui Hian and Abang Johari in particular, were making statements saying that Najib was the best prime minister for Sarawak, and as late as May 14, deputy chief minister and PRS president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing said he would ‘sink or swim with BN’, and yet they are now quitting BN, adding insults to injury.

“A friend in need is a friend indeed. PBB, PRS, PDP and SUPP surely do not subscribe to such notion. They will only be friends during good times. In difficult times, they have no hesitation to dump their friends.

“In future, if Umno becomes stronger, they will again go along with Umno,” Chong, who is also Kota Sentosa assemblyman said.

Selangau MP, who is also Sarawak Parti Keadilan Rakyat ( PKR) chairman, Baru Bian, meanwhile asked why the Sarawak government was leaving BN now.

“Why abandon BN-Umno at this crucial time,” he asked, without further comment.