Chong criticised for claiming credit over move to sue Petronas
KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Stakan branch chairman Sim Kiang Chiok yesterday hit out at Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen for claiming credit over the state’s legal suit against Petronas.
In a statement, he said Chong, as a member of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government, should in the first place have persuaded the federal cabinet to instruct the national oil company to pay the State Sales Tax it owed to Sarawak.
Instead, Sim said Chong, who is also PH Sarawak chairman, tried to claim credit for the Sarawak government’s action in hauling Petronas to court for non-payment.
“Has (Chong) forgotten that he is in the PH federal government and a deputy minister in the PH cabinet? Has he forgotten that Petronas is under their total control?
“If he truly cared, as a Sarawakian for Sarawak, he would have demanded the federal government to pay the sales tax in the first place. Now they (DAP) are supporting the suit against Petronas and have the cheek to claim credit for the action which in my opinion is a patriotic duty, and DAP has no other choice but to support it because it is the correct move,” said Sim.
He claimed DAP Sarawak was attempting to retain its dignity among its supporters by showing support to the state government’s move against Petronas.
He went on to remind DAP Sarawak that it had yet to fulfil its election promises, such as the 20 per cent oil and gas royalties and the return of 50 per cent of income tax collected in Sarawak, as well as 30 per cent of Budget 2020 development funds to be allocated for Sarawak.
“There are even more promises made to Malaysians which they failed to fulfil such as recognition of Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), removal of all highway tolls, reducing petrol price to RM1.50 per litre, abolishing PTPTN loans, stopping rare earth factory Lynas and many others,” he added.