KUCHING: Several Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders have taken the state DAP, notably its chairman Chong Chieng Jen, to task for trying to turn the Bersih rally here into something it is not meant to be.
PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Chong’s outburst against the rally organiser showed he was a ‘leader in desperation’, while state BN Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) chairman Abdullah Saidol and SUPP Youth publicity chief Milton Foo noted that the party had hijacked the gathering.
Abdul Karim said while Chong, who is also Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman, had the right to call for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s resignation, it was not in sync with the objectives of the rally.
“I thought Bersih 4 was a rally calling for, among others, clean government, transparency, and good governance. The organiser is the one that keeps to their promises to the authority that comes with the clearance for the rally.
“It was not a venue just for the DAP, but for all. Chong wanted to hijack the Kuching Bersih rally but the organiser was not stupid. They could smell the rat in their midst and ended the rally early before the DAP and Chong turned it into a DAP rally,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Abdullah said it was pleasant that the rally organiser kept their promises to ensure a peaceful gathering.
“Chong confidently said the crowd would be overwhelming, of no less than 10,000 people. But it seemed the rally in Kuching received only a cool reception.
“I’m not sure what happened but many people said the interference of some ‘nasty politicians’ from DAP had caused disruptions and uneasiness amongst rally goers.”
Abdullah, who is also chief political secretary to the chief minister, said he was told there was a glaring argument between the DAP and the organiser, Nicholas Mujah and Peter John Jaban, on how the rally should be conducted.
“Many who gathered at the Song Kheng Hai field felt disappointed and disorientated. The DAP wanted to do a political campaign by giving speeches about things in Peninsular Malaysia, but the other section, led by Mujah and Peter, wanted to talk more about Sarawak’s right as per their S4S campaign.
“The misunderstanding had caused the ‘pre-National Day party’ to end abruptly, and the DAP blamed the organiser for being a coward.”
Abdullah, who is also Semop assemblyman, said Chong could not even compromise things with their own dissenters and it was typical of the DAP, who was always trying to show their snobbish superior attitude.
“I think DAP should now be the one who felt the ‘jittery’ from the poor showing of the Kuching’s so-called Bersih rally.”
Meanwhile, Foo said if the DAP wanted to call for Najib’s resignation, they should organise their own ‘Ubah’ rally.
“Do not hijack the people’s movement and use it as a tool to gain political mileage. DAP showed a blatant disrespect to the Bersih organiser and blurred the core appeal of free and fair election into a political agenda to oust the prime minister.”
Foo said as a lawyer and elected representative, Chong should know very clearly that the democratic avenue to oust the prime minister should be via a vote of no confidence against him in Parliament, or through a general election.
PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Chong’s outburst against the rally organiser showed he was a ‘leader in desperation’, while state BN Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) chairman Abdullah Saidol and SUPP Youth publicity chief Milton Foo noted that the party had hijacked the gathering.
Abdul Karim said while Chong, who is also Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman, had the right to call for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s resignation, it was not in sync with the objectives of the rally.
“I thought Bersih 4 was a rally calling for, among others, clean government, transparency, and good governance. The organiser is the one that keeps to their promises to the authority that comes with the clearance for the rally.
“It was not a venue just for the DAP, but for all. Chong wanted to hijack the Kuching Bersih rally but the organiser was not stupid. They could smell the rat in their midst and ended the rally early before the DAP and Chong turned it into a DAP rally,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Abdullah said it was pleasant that the rally organiser kept their promises to ensure a peaceful gathering.
“Chong confidently said the crowd would be overwhelming, of no less than 10,000 people. But it seemed the rally in Kuching received only a cool reception.
“I’m not sure what happened but many people said the interference of some ‘nasty politicians’ from DAP had caused disruptions and uneasiness amongst rally goers.”
Abdullah, who is also chief political secretary to the chief minister, said he was told there was a glaring argument between the DAP and the organiser, Nicholas Mujah and Peter John Jaban, on how the rally should be conducted.
“Many who gathered at the Song Kheng Hai field felt disappointed and disorientated. The DAP wanted to do a political campaign by giving speeches about things in Peninsular Malaysia, but the other section, led by Mujah and Peter, wanted to talk more about Sarawak’s right as per their S4S campaign.
“The misunderstanding had caused the ‘pre-National Day party’ to end abruptly, and the DAP blamed the organiser for being a coward.”
Abdullah, who is also Semop assemblyman, said Chong could not even compromise things with their own dissenters and it was typical of the DAP, who was always trying to show their snobbish superior attitude.
“I think DAP should now be the one who felt the ‘jittery’ from the poor showing of the Kuching’s so-called Bersih rally.”
Meanwhile, Foo said if the DAP wanted to call for Najib’s resignation, they should organise their own ‘Ubah’ rally.
“Do not hijack the people’s movement and use it as a tool to gain political mileage. DAP showed a blatant disrespect to the Bersih organiser and blurred the core appeal of free and fair election into a political agenda to oust the prime minister.”
Foo said as a lawyer and elected representative, Chong should know very clearly that the democratic avenue to oust the prime minister should be via a vote of no confidence against him in Parliament, or through a general election.
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