DEPUTY Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Chong Chieng Jen has been roundly slammed in Sarawak over his U-turn on having English as a medium of instruction in schools in the state.

The state DAP and Pakatan Harapan (PH) chief’s comments in his defence of Education Minister Maszlee Malik’s recent written reply to a parliamentary question by Batang Sadong MP Nancy Shukri that English as a medium of instruction in Sarawak schools violates Article 152(1) of the federal constitution and the National Language Act, brought the ire of Sarawakians.

Maszlee also said it would contravene “the letter and spirit” of the Education Act.

Chong was reminded that not too long ago, he had called on then prime minister Najib Razak to revive English as the medium of instructions in Sarawak schools.

He said this would show the sincerity of Najib’s promise to return autonomy to the state.

Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Youth secretary-general Milton Foo, in adding his voice to the chorus of condemnation, said Chong is now beginning to show “his true colours” as a politician.

“Before GE14, leaders from PH Sarawak had constantly attacked many federal policies and laws as unfair and an injustice to Sarawak.

“However after May 9, their true colours have been uncovered and some have become the spokesman for their leaders from Malaya at the expense of the rights and interests of Sarawak.”

Foo said instead of defending and upholding the interests for the people of Sarawak, “Chong is only keen on defending his Malaya counterparts and perhaps his deputy ministerial portfolio”.

Chong’s quick reaction in defending Mazlee “simply shows that he has now become a manager in Sarawak for his Malaya counterparts, as opposed to his famous aggressive role in defending Sarawak without fear or favour when he was an opposition MP”, Foo said.

On the other hand, Foo asked if Chong had merely been “acting” all this while, or the veil had actually been lifted to uncover his true colours.

Former PKR state liaison chief and assemblyman, Dominique Ng, said Chong’s about turn showed he “willingly betrayed the people of Sarawak for personal gain and party politics”.

“They were all are lions when they are in opposition. But they turned pussy cats when they enter government.

“The saddest thing to me is the continual deprivation and the denial of Sarawak rights by the Barisan Nasional government and now the PH government.

“And it’s Sarawak own politicians in federal government who are used to betray us. That’s the irony of it all.”

Ng was referring to controversial oil and gas royalty agreement, which he said was “given away” by the state’s Governor Abdul Taib Mahmud when he was the federal minister of primary industries.

Deputy Chief Minister James Masing said Chong’s rhetoric on English as a medium of instruction in state schools was only to entice the people to vote for PH “without giving it a thorough study”.

“In short, they were lying. As I’ve said before, a true test of a person’s character is to put him in a position of authority.”

Chong in a statement this afternoon said Maszlee’s parliamentary reply was just a “restatement of the position of the law passed by the Barisan Nasional government under the 1996 Education Act”.

“That’s why in all national schools, the medium of instruction is Bahasa Melayu.”

Chong however, said the law is confined only to national schools and is not applicable to Chinese, Tamil and private schools. – September 8, 2018.