M’sians encouraged to speak up
SIBU: Malaysians are urged to continue to speak up and make their voice heard to enable this country move forward.
In making the call, Bukit Assek assemblywoman Irene Chang said for the first time people’s power had come into play, leading to the forming of the new Pakatan Harapan ( PH) government.
“Throughout the recent election period, young people had shown their involvement and their love for the country with many flying back from abroad to vote, some even volunteered to become polling agents and counting agents,” she noted.
She said though PH is now the government, the nation still needs the voice of the people to move forward.
“During the election campaign, we saw that there were lots of unfair tactics, but in spite of that, the people had spoken up. This is the people’s power and I hope that this will continue,” she told a press conference yesterday.
She assured the people that PH in Sarawak will continue to voice out for the people of Sarawak and defend the rights of Sarawak.
“We ( PH) in Sarawak are still in the opposition, but rest assured that we in PH will do our utmost in the interest of the rakyat,” she asserted.
She said PH in Sarawak will not make themselves `yes men’ to the PH federal government.
Urging the newly elected PH candidates to live up to the expectations of those who voted for them, she said the election victors should know that the victory is people’s victory.
Irene also mentioned about some of the bad laws and bad cultures in the nation, and expressed hope of seeing these repealed soonest possible.
Meanwhile, Oscar Ling who retained Sibu in the election called for cooperation and rapport between the federal government and the state government.
“Our priority is the people’s interests, such as smooth implementation of development projects.
“If there is no cooperation, there will be confusion. For example, today many people have received compound tickets for not displaying parking coupons as they thought today is a public holiday.
“They did not know that the state government has decided not to have a holiday today,” he explained.
Ling said Sibu is in dire need of improvements in many areas, such as road condition, more bridges, low- cost houses and so on.
“For the federal government to implement projects in Sarawak, approval and cooperation from the state government are required.
“So, cooperation between the federal government and the state government is very important,” he reiterated.
Present at the press conference were Lanang MP Alice Lau, Pelawan assemblyman David Wong, PKR Kanowit secretary George Chen, PKR campaign director for Selangau Simon Joseph and PKR member Jimbai Agan.