Chong: ‘Local party’ sentiment a diversion strategy by GPS
MIRI: Sarawakians should focus on the real economic issues affecting their everyday lives rather than worrying about whether they are governed by a local or national party-led state government, said Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen.
The Padungan assemblyman said he regarded the discussion on ‘local party versus national party’ issue as a diversion strategy by the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
“GPS is diverting the attention of the people from discussing the real issues affecting the people. I think as a national and responsible political party, we (DAP) want the people to refocus on the real economic issues that affect everybody.
“For the past two years, the issue of local or national party has been played up so much that a lot of policymakers and politicians have lost sight of the real issue affecting the people every day, which is the economic issue,” he told a press conference after chairing a dialogue session at the party’s Miri headquarters on Sunday.
Chong, who is also Stampin MP, said the increase in the prices of food, raw materials and construction materials are all “real issues that the so-called local parties or politicians have avoided talking about”.
He pointed out that the price of pork has increased by between 10 and 20 per cent, or RM2.50 per kilogramme, from last Saturday.
“This price of pork is something the state government has a say in but so much talk about local party.
“I raise this issue because it affects the people at large. Everyday cost of living is the real issue that needs to be addressed, and politics is about the management of the country and the people’s affairs.”
He said another issue that concerned the people was the so-called ‘rich state, poor people’ situation in Sarawak.
“We all know that Sarawak is a rich state, rich in resources, and the Sarawak government has over RM30 billion in reserves, making Sarawak the richest state government amongst all the 13 states in the country, and yet our poverty rate is ranked third in the country.
“To me, this discussion of local or national party is not the real issue affecting the people’s lives but a diversion technique of GPS to cover up their failure or divert people’s attention on their failure to properly manage the state and people’s affairs in politics.
“Therefore, we should not continue to fall into such trap and lose focus of every-day real issues facing the people,” he added.
With Chong at the press conference were DAP Sarawak deputy chairman Alice Lau, secretary Alan Ling, treasurer Chiew Chiu Sing, Youth chief Peter Hee and Sibu MP Oscar Ling.