Sarawak Legislative Assembly Opposition Leader Chong Chieng Jen who was suspended indefinitely for saying Tourism Minister Abang Johari Openg was like an ‘Umno politician', wants to know what is so offensive of the term.

Chong also wants to know why Abang Johari did not want to support his resolutions as a condition for his withdrawal of the remark.

bn candidates announcement pbb hq 030411 abang johari The two resolutions Chong proposed for the Sarawak assembly to pass are ‘Umno is bad and that Sarawak does not welcome Umno' and the other, ‘the State government shall ensure that Umno is not allowed to set up branches in Sarawak'.

In his budget debate last Friday, Chong, who is the Kota Sentosa assemblyperson, said the minister ( left ) was more like an Umno politician.

"Why I put the two conditions for the withdrawal of my remark is because there is a justifiable fear that Abang Johari will bring Umno to Sarawak.

"We know Abang Johari has for long had a close relationship with Umno. He has a lot of support from Umno.

"The fear is that if he rises to the top post (Chief Minister), he will bring Umno to Sarawak. So when he did not dare support my resolutions, then there must be something behind it," Chong said.

Explaining his suspension to the media, Chong said there would be a change of leadership in Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) sooner or later and the man most likely to succeed Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud is Abang Johari, who is the PBB deputy president.

‘Abang Johari needs Umno to consolidate his position'

Chong said: "We all know that Abang Johari does not have the support of PBB leaders and members. So he needs the support of Umno to consolidate his position.

"To do that, he may invite Umno to come in and allow the party to contest in a number of seats in the state. This is a serious and justifiable fear among Sarawakians."

A number of government and opposition politicians also said it was a mistake for Abang Johari to object to the words ‘like an Umno politician' that was used on him.

After all, they asked, what is wrong for him to be called an ‘Umno politician'?

Abang Johari's objection to it and resulted in the suspension of the Kota Sentosa member and the issue gained wide publicity. Such publicity could have far-reaching negative effects on Abang Johari from the general public and even from the Umno leadership, they said.

See also: Sarawak assembly suspends opposition chief indefinitely