Sarawak DAP chairperson Chong Chieng Jen has warned Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin to keep his party brand of politics, like the rampant use of sedition allegations against opposition leaders to hide BN incompetency, out of Sarawak.

"This is Umno's trademark politics in West Malaysia. I urge Khairy to keep his Umno brand of politics out of Sarawak," Chong said at a media conference in Kuching today.

chong chieng jen interview 141108 02 Chong ( left ), who is Bandar Kuching MP, was referring to a police report lodged by Khairy that his (Chong's) statement on Monday had stirred up hatred against the BN government.

He said: "As the Umno Youth chief and also as a minister, Khairy should put his energy and efforts to help to solve crime and not abuse his power to make baseless allegations against the opposition."

Instead of playing up the issue of sedition against him, it would serve the people better for the BN and Umno to ensure that the government assigns at least 50 percent of the police force to fight crime and reduce the rate.

"The police report lodged against me is nothing but an attempt by Umno to side-track the security issue and divert public attention on the deteriorating state of public security and the failure on the part of the Home Ministry in solving escalating crimes," Chong added.

He denied saying that "BN engineered the crimes to justify the re-introduction of the Emergency Ordinance (EO)-like preventive laws.

Blame game tactic stripped bare

Referring to his statement, he said the police seemed to be unable to handle the crime situation and instil any sense of security among the public.

Chong also said that instead of taking serious action to resolve the issue, the home minister seemed to be concerned about blaming the rising crime rate on the abolition of the notorious EO and pushing for the re-introduction of EO-like laws allowing police to detain anyone without trial.

"The impression given to the public is that the minister is taking advantage of the situation to push for Umno's political agenda, that is, the re-introduction of the EO-like laws that will give the minister the ultimate power to silence dissidents and suppress the opposition.

NONE "With the sudden spate in crime, the obsession of the home minister ( Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, left ) with EO and the numerous incidents of the police putting all the blame for crimes on the abolition of EO, gives rise to the suspicion that the ministry is intentionally taking it easy on combating crime and ‘allows' the crime rate to go up so as to justify the re-introduction of EO or EO-like preventive laws which will make the minister the most powerful man in Malaysia," Chong said.

Asked whether the police had contacted him, Chong said he had been expecting them to call on him.

"I will give my full cooperation to the police in respect of the report lodged against me by Khairy Jamaluddin. So far, the police have not contacted me yet.

"I am sure they will do, and I will give them my full cooperation, and at the same time, I urge them to concentrate on their efforts in fighting crime.

"This is the paramount concern of the people as they do not feel safe walking on the streets, do not feel safe working in the office or even having dinner.

"Even drain covers, electricity and telecom cables are not safe. They are stolen left, right and centre, causing not only inconvenience to the people, but also actual economic loss," he said.

"This is the situation that we are facing in Malaysia today," added Chong

The writer, who is based in Sarawak, uses a pseudonym.