Immigration autonomy: Chong asks CM to name deputy minister
KUCHING: Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen has called on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari to disclose the identity of the deputy minister who recently suggested for Sarawak to end its immigration autonomy.
He said Abang Johari should be more specific and transparent when making such a statement to the press last Saturday.
“He should be more open and honest and not make some general statement or hide facts partially so as to create suspicion or paint an innuendo against anyone of us (federal ministers),” he told a press conference after the opening ceremony of the 18 th DA P Sarawak State Ordinary Convention, which was declared open by Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook at Crown Square here yesterday.
He was commenting on Abang Johari’s revelation last Saturday that a deputy minister who had paid him a courtesy call recently had suggested that it’s time for Sarawak to end its immigration autonomy, to which he declined.
Chong, who is also DAP Sarawak chairman, said he did not know which deputy minister Abang Johari was referring to, but assured that the individual who paid the courtesy call was definitely not him.
“I’ve not seen the chief minister for the past two months, and the recent courtesy call he mentioned is definitely not from me.
“But I don’t think any Sarawakian, be it a minister, deputy minister, member of parliament, elected representative or even any ordinary Sarawakian will harbour the idea of abolishing the immigration autonomy that Sarawak enjoys.”
He also opined that the chief minister might have concocted the statement in order to create a ‘siege mentality among Sarawakians’.
“The whole thing that transpired (during the courtesy call) we don’t know. For all you know, this so- called deputy minister does not even exist and maybe the content of conversation between them was not even about that (immigration autonomy).
“Abang Johari is trying to paint a picture whereby Sarawak’s rights are now under siege so Sarawakians have to support him and stay with GPS,” he claimed, adding that such tactic was also applied by Umno prior to the 14th General Election where the once formidable party played the race card to win Malay votes.
Meanwhile, Loke said it’s only fair for Abang Johari to name the deputy minister so that he or she can reply to the allegations.
“Whatever he or she meant or what he or she told the chief minister, the person must be given a chance to explain.”
However, the DAP National organising secretary stressed that this suggestion to end Sarawak’s immigration rights was never the intention of the federal government.
“As far as I’m concerned, this issue was never raised in the cabinet, and we never even touched on taking away the rights of Sarawak.
“In fact, the whole Malaysia Agreement 1963 is to give back the power and rights of Sabah and Sarawak. It’s not about taking away the immigration rights.”