Leon chides Masing for dismissing proposal of Shafie as PM
KUCHING: Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sri Aman branch chief Leon Jimat Donald has chided Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar James Masing for brushing off the proposal of Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal as a prime minister candidate.
Leon said Masing did not see the bigger picture because by nominating the Sabah Chief Minister as prime minister, both Sarawak and Sabah would benefit as a precedent would be set and in the future where a Sarawakian may also be eligible to be considered as prime minister candidate irrespective of political party.
“By combining the strength and focus of Gabungan Parti
Sarawak (GPS) and Warisan (Shafie’s party), a union could be forged for a stronger voice from the Bornean states.
“Fighting for the rights and privileges of Sarawak based on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) is the main thrust of GPS’s struggle and agenda, which is also the main struggle and purpose of Warisan as well,” he said in a statement yesterday.
However, Masing’s statement this past weekend said that Shafie’s candidacy as prime minister was only a ploy by Pakatan Harapan (PH) to lure support from the Bornean states.
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had endorsed Shafie’s nomination as prime minister with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir as deputy prime ministers.
“I know that Shafie is a good and capable leader, but do not take Sabahans and Sarawakians for fools by proposing him as the PM after the 15th General Election in order to get the two East Malaysian states to support him for his proposal.
“There is no way Malaysian voters would accept it! I ask Dr Mahathir to stop playing politics and get real for once,” said Masing in his statement.
To this, Leon said he was bewildered that Masing was quick to shoot down the idea, and claimed that GPS would rather work with PAS and Umno, rather than embrace the idea of an East Malaysian becoming the prime minister.
“Does Masing not feel comfortable with PH under the premiership of Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, or is GPS now very comfortable in their partnership with PAS and Umno?
Leon said Masing and other naysayers should look beyond partisan politics and look at this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to support Shafie as prime minister as it will only be good for the Bornean states. He believed that Shafie will be sympathetic to the plight of Sabah and Sarawak, and also return to the original agreement of MA63.