SARAWAK Pakatan Harapan and DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen said Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg’s objection to the set-up and composition of the special cabinet committee to discuss the non compliance of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 is akin to “chickening out” of the talks.

“Before he attends the first meeting of the steering committee, he has already chickened out,” he told reporters in Kuching when asked on the “lopsided” representation in the committee.

Nine of the committee members, including the chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad, are from the peninsulam with the remaining seven split between Sabah and Sarawak.

Abang Johari had objected because he said the representation did not reflect the position of the three territories – Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak – as equal partners in the federation.

The Sarawak chief minister also called on the committee to be modelled along the 1962 British-formed Inter-Governmental Committee that studied and drafted the proposals for the formation of Malaysia.

Chong said the numbers (in the committee) are not that important because no voting will take place.

“The whole problem lies with the attitude (mentality) of the GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) leaders.

“They think the majority must have their way like what happens in the DUN (state legislative assembly).

“They are always of the view that the majority can bully the minority. When he’s in the minority, he panicked even before the first meeting is set up.

“He chickened out,” the Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism said when speaking to reporters after witnessing the signing of a business memorandum of understanding (MOU) in his constituency of Kota Sentosa.

“What I’m saying is that the majority will not always have its way. It depends on how you articulate (your demands).”

Chong said the failure of the state government to accept PH’s offer of 5% of oil royalty, 20% of oil profits and 50% of all revenue collected in Sarawak meant the state had opted to take a more longer route to get their demands.

State PH leaders had offered the state government just before the general election what it called a “new deal” on the sharing of the state’s oil and gas resources and autonomy over education and health service.

It again made an “improved” offer in July and again the state government rejected the offer, questioning the Sarawak PH’s locus standi in making such an offer.

Sarawak called the offer “another political balderdash” (political nonsense)”.

But Chong told the journalists the offer had the blessing of Dr Mahathir.

“We negotiated with Tun M already. It was agreed. That’s why it was in the manifesto.

“That’s why we said there is no longer any need for negotiation if we win power.

“They rejected it, so now they have to take their arguments ‘the long way’ to the steering committee.” – October 29, 2018.