State BN leaders say no need for referendum

July 22, 2015

KUCHING: State Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders are of the view that there is no need for the state to have a referendum ordinance as is proposed by state DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen.

Chong, who is Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman, said he was ready to table a motion for a referendum ordinance in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on Aug 17.

He said the ‘Sarawak for Sarawakians’ (S4S) organisers had been gunning for a referendum ordinance, as opposed to Sarawak’s independence.

Chong said what the referendum ordinance would do was to allow referendums to be held in respect of major decisions of any country or government.

He said there many examples of referendums held globally. In Switzerland for example several referendums were held in a year when the government wanted to increase assessment rates.

In Scotland, Chong said the referendum was specific, which was the Scotland Independence Referendum Act. There was only one agenda which was their independence.

A PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah meanwhile described Chong’s latest move as another publicity stunt.

Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, said just like in many previous sittings where Chong would come up with many motions, knowing well that they would be rejected and not see the light of the day.

“The reasons why we have a State Legislative Assembly and elected representatives are to discuss and make decisions on matters pertaining to the state.

“If Chong wants every little thing to be decided by a referendum then we should do away with a legislative assembly,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.

Abdul Karim believed that major decisions could still be referred to the assembly and elections were indicators of whether the people were supportive of the policies of the previous government.

“If they still get voted in, that is an indication that the people are happy and supportive.”

Meanwhile, PRS president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing said the need for a referendum on Sarawak status in Malaysia had not arisen yet, nor did the state’s constitution allowed for a referendum to take place.

“I hope the need will not arise. I’m confident that we can work out our grouses within the ambit of the constitution without resorting to a referendum,” the Baleh assemblyman said.