SARAWAKIANS have cast doubt on DAP claims that the state’s main ruling party, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), have entered into a race and religious alliance with Umno and PAS.

The claim was made by state DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen following a recent meeting between PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and PBB president-cum Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg in Kuching yesterday.

Former Umno ally PBB is the biggest party in Sarawak’s ruling pact of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), which includes Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).

“I doubt that,” said Josh John of Chong’s claim earlier this week.

Chong, who is Stampin MP and deputy domestic trade and consumer minister, had said the meeting between Hadi and Abang Johari was a “confirmation of the unholy union of PAS, Umno and PBB to topple the Pakatan Harapan government (in the next general election) using racial politics”.

John’s doubt is representative of the opinions of nearly all the people spoken to in Kuching by The Malaysian Insight.

They now seemed to have become wary of DAP’s political claims and allegations – the price the party looked to be paying for its failure to deliver on the general election promises.

“(At the moment) I can’t totally say he (Chong) is wrong either. In politics everything is possible.

“You never know who is truthful or otherwise. Promises can easily be broken.

“Most of our politicians are there only to enrich themselves, their families and friends. Not sincere in truly wanting to help the people,” added John.

But John said if there is truth to Chong’s claim, “I will encourage all and sundry to not vote for such a coalition”.

John said he is, and will never be, in favour of GPS joining forces with Umno-PAS.

He said the two Malay parties are “a racist and extremist force”, using race and religion for political gains.

Lee Kuok Tiung was another Sarawakian to dismiss Chong’s claim outright, saying it’s “all a made-up story to scare the Chinese from GPS”.

“He’s trying to play the racial and religious card, the same way as Umno and PAS,” Lee said.

The academic said Sarawakians do not need that kind of politics and warned Chong not to bring the “Peninsular political model” to Sarawak.

“This claim of PBB working with Umno and PAS is all a delusion from him.

“He should focus on PH’s election pledges. He promised PH can do better than BN.

“Walk the talk. Where’s the 20% oil & gas royalty? Where’s the 50% of tax revenue?” he said.

Another Chinese, Mark Poon, agreed with Lee, saying Chong was “obviously trying to plant the idea that PBB will side with Umno and PAS” at the next general election.

PBB presently has a stranglehold of the state’s Malay-Muslim votes, which PKR, Amanah and even PAS have not found a way to break in more than a decade.

Poon is also cynical of Chong’s claim, saying the state DAP chief was exaggerating.

Abang Johari last Friday had called Chong’s claim as “shallow politics”.

He also said it was not Hadi who made a courtesy call on him at his office at the state legislative assembly building in Petrajaya.

The chief minister said it was Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar who made the call and Hadi just happened to be in the entourage.

Abang Johari said PBB, GPS or PAS working together politically was never on the agenda in the meeting.

What were discussed were matters of mutual interest to the two states, oil and gas, Abang Johari said.

The meeting came a day after Hadi’s hate-filled tirade at a Malaysia Day event in Bintulu where he claimed the DAP wants to give control of Sarawak and its wealth to the Chinese. – September 25, 2019.