THE Sarawak chief minister said he will invite the auditor-general and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to sit in project-award and tender meetings, to quash the notion that the state conducts dirty dealings.

“It has been seen and heard that our so-called ‘friends’ on the other side are using scare and fear tactics against the Sarawak administration by continuously questioning the (state) government and insinuating that it is corrupt and not transparent,” said Abang Johari Openg, referring to Pakatan Harapan lawmakers.

“Making continuous erroneous allegations and insinuating corruption against me, my ministers and state civil servants, without any proof or substantiation, creates the public perception that there is something wrong with the government,” he told the state assembly today.

“When they repeat such allegations, they are hoping that the people will believe their stories and vote against the government.”

He said he does not fear such tactics, and that ever since PH took over the federal government, “they have harped on corruption as a way to bring down leaders”.

“We are not afraid of such tactics, and we are ready to face any issues raised by the opposition, without fear or favour.”

Abang Johari said Sarawak will continue to abide by the financial procedures laid out by the law and financial provisions based on the Treasury’s instruction, and warned the state opposition to never question his administration’s integrity and sincerity.

He said the state’s ability to keep its reserves high, stable State Credit Rating of A- by Standard & Poor’s, A3 rating by Moody’s Investors Service, and string of Clean Certificates for Public Accounts Management by the auditor-general for 16 consecutive years are a testimony to Sarawak’s prudent financial management and good governance.

“There is no other state in Malaysia – not even the federal government – that has recorded such an excellent achievement.”

If PH lawmakers want to challenge the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak state government, he said, “challenge us with facts, instead of simply creating negative public perception and resorting to character assassination”.

“That is cheap politics,” said the chief minister, who called on Sarawakians “not to fall prey to the cheap politics of the opposition”.

“Their objective is to bring down the government using perception and not facts, because they do not have the facts.” – November 14, 2018.