‘Don’t stir up East vs Semenanjung sentiments’

Posted on September 19, 2012, Wednesday

PR leaders should ‘grow up’ and learn to appreciate that without Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah would not have developed into what they were today.

SIBU: Pakatan Rakyat (PR) should not sow the seed of discontent, ‘fertilising’ it through the Kuching Declaration that could stir up sentiments of ‘East vs Semenanjung’, said SUPP Sibu vice-chairman Daniel Ngieng.

Warning them of the impending backlash through their pursuit of such political gimmick, he stressed that national solidarity and goodwill must be built on understanding and mutual respect.

“Why the Kuching Declaration now? They want to stir up sentiments of ‘East vs Semenanjung’, and thereafter hope to ride on it to derail BN support in the two states.

“You see, national solidarity and goodwill must be built on understanding and mutual respect,” he said in response to PR’s claim to champion the rights of Sarawak and Sabah.

Last Sunday, national and state leaders of PR signed the Kuching Declaration, pledging to restore Sarawak and Sabah as equal partners of Peninsular Malaysia if they (PR) form the next government.

The declaration which contained seven articles was signed by PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian, Sarawak DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng and PAS Sarawak commissioner Adam Ahid.

The articles include equal partners (restoring autonomy to Sarawak and Sabah within the framework of the Federal Constitution).

Ngieng responded: “We here enjoy autonomous rights like immigration which BN upholds. Both PAS and DAP leaders have criticised it and called for abolition of our state rights.”

It was ironic how now PR issued the Kuching Declaration with one singing this and promising that.

It was just opportunistic on the part of the opposition, Ngieng commented.

He asked: “Could you trust someone like Anwar to defend your rights?”

When contacted, Asajaya assemblyman Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said: “PR should not have sown the seed of discontent on the day we celebrate our state’s independence and on the day we celebrate Malaysia Day.
   

Karim: Turning Sept 16 into a political event disgusting

September 15, 2012

SIBU: Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will make a declaration on Sept 16, which state DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen said would be historical and would give meaning to the Malaysia Day.

PR is not about to disclose the gist of the declaration, dubbed ‘The Kuching Declaration’.

Earlier press reports said the declaration would be signed by PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang, state PKR liaison chief Baru Bian, state DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng and Sarawak PAS commissioner Adam Ahid.

The declaration would be made during a gathering in Kuching.

Asajaya assemblyman Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah when contacted yesterday said he had no idea what the declaration was about.

“It does smell of some ‘political do’. If Pakatan plans to hijack this date for a political do, I can only say here that I am disgusted,” he said.

Added Karim: “They have brought themselves so low to the extent of playing politics with our Independence Day…a day which we should put aside politics to celebrate and be proud of what we have achieved as a Free Independent Nation.”

‘Opposition ministers must behave properly’

May 3, 2011

“It’s a mockery of the multi-ethnic composition of Sarawak.” -Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahmah Hamzah

KUCHING: Land Development Minister Dato Sri Dr James Masing said the formation of a shadow Cabinet is not new but the opposition ‘ministers’ must behave properly.

“What they do now will reflect what they will do as a minister if they take over (the government),” said Masing who is Baleh assemblyman

Masing who is Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president said he believed the voters were wise enough to know what type of leaders they want to govern them.

“If they are rational in their presentation in the state legislative assembly (DUN) then you (people) will have a rational minister. If they behave like monkeys, then you will have monkeys as your leaders,” he said when asked to comment on the newly formed Pakatan Rakyat state shadow Cabinet.

On the state shadow Cabinet to be led by DAP Sarawak chairman Wong Ho Leng, Masing said; “It happens in countries which practise parliamentary democracy. Opposition leader normally is a Chief Minister-designate. In this case it is Wong Ho Leng.”

“Each shadow ministry including the ‘Chief Minister’ will perform their respective portfolio. The public will judge them accordingly,” he pointed out.

Chief Political secretary to the Chief Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah did not take kindly to the shadow Cabinet. He alleged the current crop of opposition members had made a mockery of the function.

Karim: Mengapa Wong dan bukan Baru sebagai KM kabinet bayangan?

May 3, 2011

“Tetapi kenapa pula kabinet bayangan ini meletakkan Wong Ho Leng sebagai Ketua Menteri?" Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

Kabinet bayangan bukan perkara baru tetapi ‘menteri-menteri’ pembangkang mesti berkelakuan baik

KUCHING: Menteri Kemajuan Tanah Dato Sri James Masing berkata pembentukan kabinet bayangan bukan perkara baru tetapi ‘menteri-menteri’ pembangkang mesti berkelakuan baik.

Beliau berkata usaha Pakatan Rakyat (PR) itu akan menggambarkan perkara yang bakal mereka lakukan sebagai menteri jika mereka mengambil alih kerajaan.

“Jika mereka rasional ketika hadir pada persidangan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) maka anda (rakyat) akan mempunyai menteri yang rasional.

“Sekiranya mereka berkelakuan seperti (menteri) monyet, maknanya anda (rakyat) akan menjadikan monyet sebagai pemimpin,” katanya semalam, apabila diminta mengulas tindakan PR menubuhkan kabinet bayangan.

Masing yang juga presiden Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) berkata beliau percaya pengundi cukup bijak dalam memilih pemimpin untuk memimpin serta mentadbir mereka.

Mengulas lanjut mengenai kabinet bayangan yang diketuai pengerusi DAP Negeri Wong Ho Leng, Masing berkata: “Ia berlaku dalam banyak negara, yang mengamalkan demokrasi berparlimen.

“Pemimpin pembangkang lazimnya adalah Ketua Menteri yang tidak rasmi. Dalam kes ini Ketua Menteri tidak rasmi itu ialah Wong Ho Leng.