Unfair to fish for votes in Sarawak with threats, say MPs

Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii (Left) at the Spring Shopping Mall PPV in Kuching, where hundreds had turned up to get their booster dose for Covid-19 on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Kelvin Yii Facebook.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 – Two Opposition Members of Parliament today protested a statement made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who was reported to have called on Sarawak voters to “not make a wrong choice by voting a state administration different from the government.”

MalaysiaKini on Saturday reported Ismail saying that many projects may not be implemented if they voted a state administration different from the central government.

Withholding development fund should the voters make “wrong decision” is akin to blackmailing and is not in synch with the spirit of “Keluarga Malaysia” that is being promoted, said Kelvin Yii, MP for Bandar Kuching and DAP candidate for Batu Kawah, in a statement today.

“From 2010 to 2021, how much longer do Malaysians, especially Sarawakians have to face this type of threats and intimidations?”said “No Sarawakians shall be deprived even when they vote differently.”

He said although Sarawak has been part of the federal government for past 50 over years, the state was still far behind in terms of development compared to other regions in the country.

It is the responsibility of the government of the day to bring development to the people regardless of their political inclination.

Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching also took to task the Prime Minister for his statement.

“It is utterly inexcusable……for Ismail Sabri to threaten Sarawak voters that many projects may not be implemented if they make the wrong choice by voting a state administration is different from the central government.”

She said such a statement also implied that the Prime Minister could have been unfair and even-handed in Budget 2022 and 12th Malaysian Plan towards Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan as these states have state administrations that are different from the central government.

 
 –WE