DAP calls for the Formalisation of “Keeping UMNO out of Sarawak” arrangement

(11-2-2014)

I, as DAP Sarawak Chairman and a Sarawakian, call for the formalisation of the agreed understanding amongst the BN component parties, i.e., that UMNO stays out of Sarawak.

Following the statement by Taib “to keep Sarawak for Sarawakians”, Shafie Apdal’s statement “UMNO stays out of state” and Zahid Hamidi’s statement that UMNO will respect the “political mould” of Sarawak, the only outstanding thing that needs to be done is to put into writing and to formalise this political arrangement which all Sarawakians, including the BN and Pakatan Rakyat want.

The fact that UMNO is not wanted in Sarawak has long been in existence. I was suspended from the Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Sarawak because of the simple reason that I likened Abang Johari to UMNO politicians, saying that he acts like a UMNO politician. My suspension bears testimony that UMNO is so repulsive to Sarawakian that to say “a person is like UMNO politician” warrants a suspension from DUN Sarawak.

The rejection of UMNO by Sarawakians is not so much of it being a “West-Malaysia” based party, but because of its brand of “3R” politics, ie. playing up the issues of “race, religion and rulers”. Such racial politics has no place in Sarawak.

At least, it is now openly admitted by the Sarawak BN leaders that UMNO is not welcomed in Sarawak and UMNO leaders (both Sahfie Apdal and Zahid Hamidi are the vice presidents of UMNO) have also openly stated that UMNO will not encroach into Sarawak politics.

However, words of mouth and comments in media by ministers have no force of law. For example, even the so-called 10-point solution by the Cabinet in respect of the “Allah” issue was not adhered to by some government departments, what more to say, mere media statements by some ministers.

Nothing short of a formal motion tabled and passed in DUN Sarawak will ensure that UMNO will not come into Sarawak in the longrun. If Sarawak Barisan Nasional is serious about keeping UMNO out of Sarawak, this is the most opportune time to have such a motion being tabled in Sarawak DUN. A special DUN sitting can even be convened specifically to have such a motion tabled and passed for the benefit of all Sarawakians.

Although my earlier motion in DUN Sarawak to reject UMNO was not accepted by the BN members during the previous DUN sitting, we DAP will nevertheless put aside partisan politics and support any motion tabled by the BN to reject UMNO in Sarawak.

Chong Chieng Jen
DAP Sarawak State Chairman
Member of Parliament for Bandar Kuching
Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri for Kota Sentosa