It is not Taib, but BN policy that the people oppose, says Chong

BINTULU, Oct 26, 2014: Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen admitted today the political scenario in Sarawak has changed significantly since Adenan Satem became chief minister in February this year.

"Some say that we have lost our punching bag (in the person of former chief minister Taib Mahmud) because Adenan is a more friendly and approachable person.

"I beg to differ," Chong (picture) said at the DAP State Convention held here.

He explained:" It is not Taib that the people in Sarawak is against.  It is the Barisan Nasional's policy of cronyism, monopoly of State resources in the hands of few, the land grabs and corrupt practices and abuses that the people in Sarawak are against. 

"Adenan has inherited all these from the previous administration," Chong, who is also Bandar Kuching Member of Parliament and Kota Sentosa State Assemblyman, said.

He said that although Adenan has made some statements that sounds good, like not allowing his immediate family members to apply for state land and timber concession, he has failed to implement policy reforms in the system to fight corruption and cronyism in the system. 

"Even his cabinet ministers are not singing the same tune as him.

"If Adenan truly wants to rid his administration of cronyism, corrupt practices and abuses, he is quite alone in BN, but he can only find friends in DAP," he said.

As a responsible Opposition, he said Sarawak DAP will criticise Adenan if he does something bad, but will support him he does something good for the people.

"If the chief minister wishes to do good for the people, we not only support, but also will make constructive proposals and list out the reforms in policies that will help him clean up his administration and help to make Sarawak a better place to live," he said.

On the Sarawak DAP Go-Rural Drive, he said that the party has succeeded in implementing a number of minor projects for the longhouse people.

"We have connected water supply to the doorsteps of the families in the kampongs in Bengoh, Pakan, Limbang, Bintulu where the BN Government has neglected them for decades. 

"We also helped built a house for an abused single-mother whom the BN government has turned its back on," he said, adding that the party had also helped constructed jetty in Sg Rassau, Sibu and upgraded a 3km footpath  into a village road for cars to reach two kampungs in Mambong.

"We also engaged in programmes to uplift the earning capacity of the rural people.  In Sri Aman, we gave oil palm seedlings to the NCR land owners whom the MPOB was directed by the Sarawak Government not to give.

"In Mas Gading, we taught the women the techniques of mushroom farming and training them to make handicrafts for them to earn extra income," he said.

He said that the three thrusts of the Sarawak Go-Rural Drive are to improve the living environment, uplift the earning capacity and enhance the political minds of the people in the rural area.