Sarawak DAP today poked fun at a suggestion by Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem for Sarawakians not to vote for Peninsular Malaysia-based political parties such as DAP, PKR and PAS.

 

Instead, they should vote for Sarawak-based political parties including United People's Party (UPP) and Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) besides Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) in the coming state election.

 

Adenan ( right ), who is also the state BN chairperson, made the suggestion at a gathering in Kapit last week.

 

Asked to comment on Adenan's call at a press conference today, Chong who is the MP for Bandar Kuching and state assemblyperson for Kota Sentosa, described the chief minister's call as 'childish' although he might be more senior in terms of age.                       

 

"The voters are matured enough to know that such a statement is childish," he said, adding that if Adenan was really serious about having nothing to do with Peninsular Malaysia, he should not use BN’s 'dacing' symbol.

 

"Drop the dacing symbol as it originated from West Malaysia; it represents Umno and MCA and all West Malaysian parties in BN.

 

"State BN should use a local symbol like 'Bujang Senang'," Chong said.

 

The opposition politician did not elaborate, but 'Bujang Senang' was a name given to a notorious crocodile that had devoured several people in Sri Aman in the 1980s.

 

Policies more important than logos

 

Chong said that the difference between state BN and state DAP was that the state BN took Sarawak resources out to be used in Peninsular Malaysia.

 

"Our oil and gas revenue and tax revenues which were paid by Sarawakians are all taken out by the state BN to be used in West Malaysia.

 

"For DAP, it used West Malaysian resources for the people of Sarawak," he said, citing the DAP 'impian healthcare projects' as an example.

 

He said 10 medical specialists and two general practitioners came to Sibu and Bintangor last week to treat the people in those two towns and give them free medical services.

 

Chong said that the doctors came on their own, bought their own tickets and even bought their own medicines for use by the people in Sibu and Bintangor.

 

Even before DAP formed the government, Sarawak DAP was already using Peninsular Malaysian resources, he said.

 

Chong stresses that the most important thing was the policies of the party, whether it was fighting for the interests and rights of the people of Sarawak.

 

"Certainly DAP is fighting for the rights of Sarawakians, irrespective of race and religion," he said.