Support us for stronger say, CM tells Sarawak Chinese as election looms

Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg today called on the Chinese to support the candidates fielded in the state election by the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), saying strong support from the community will ensure a bigger Chinese representation in the state government.

He also urged the Chinese, who have been largely supportive of the opposition since the 2006 state polls, to think twice before casting their ballots this election.

“If they want strong representation, they have to support the Chinese candidates of our component party.

“What I’m saying is, the government must have a very strong Chinese community. So it’s up to the Chinese community now,” he said when asked if a Chinese would be appointed as deputy chief minister.

He also questioned promises by some that they would fight for Sarawak, training his guns on DAP secretary-general and former finance minister Lim Guan Eng.

He said Lim’s claim that Sarawak under GPS would go bankrupt in three years was now proven to be unfounded.

“This is already the fourth year. Not only are we not bankrupt, we are able to make more revenue.

“We are not stupid, we know what we are doing. We have our direction and goals that we want to achieve by 2030,” he said, adding that the GPS government had also taken care of Bukit Assek constituency, which is held by the opposition.

The 2016 state election saw SUPP winning seven seats, the Progressive Democratic Party three, and the United People’s Party four.

To date, only two Chinese have served as deputy chief minister in Sarawak: James Wong Kim Min and George Chan Hong Nam.

Wong served as deputy to Sarawak’s first chief minister, Stephen Kalong Ningkan, from 1963 to 1966.

Chan meanwhile served under Taib Mahmud from September 1996 until April 2011.