Sarawak BN unfazed by PH manifesto

KUCHING: State Barisan Nasional (BN) is unfazed by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) manifesto which emphasises on returning autonomous rights to Sarawak if the opposition coalition comes into power in the next general election.

State BN chairman and Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg yesterday brushed aside the PH manifesto on Sarawak autonomy by pointing out that “itu cerita lama (that is old tale)”.

He wanted Sarawakians to ponder why PH chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was the prime minister for Malaysia from 1981 to 2003, did nothing about giving back Sarawak’s rights then.

“Itu cerita lama (that is old tale). He was the prime minister for 22 years and why now?” he asked when met by journalists after launching the Sarawak Career and Training (SCaT) Fair 2018 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching here.

Abang Johari said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak “has given us a lot of rights and Petros (Petroluem Sarawak Bhd) is an outcome of our negotiations with Datuk Najib”.

He was also quick to point out that Dr Mahathir “is recycled” and that many issues could crop up when election is around the corner.

When asked about his meeting with Najib in Putrajaya on Friday, Abang Johari said: “I will announce it later.”