SARAWAK Barisan Nasional leaders are “shameless hypocrites” for attacking Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said Chong Chieng Jen.

Chong, who is Sarawak PH chief, said whatever harm that BN leaders claimed that Dr Mahathir had done to Sarawak during his tenure, it was done with their full consent.

He said Sarawak BN leaders were full of praise for Dr Mahathir during his tenure and even gave Dr Mahathir honourary titles.

“They called him the father of development. They even rushed to kiss his hands whenever he visited Sarawak. None of them had any criticism of his policies then.

“Even when Dr Mahathir retired in 2003, for more than 10 years (after that), to these Sarawak BN leaders, his policies and deeds were all very good.

“It is only after Dr Mahathir joined PH that all those acts of his which were previously praised by the Sarawak BN leaders suddenly turned sour and became bad things,” Chong said in a media conference in Kuching today.

He said if such behaviour is not “hypocrisy of the highest degree”, then what is?

“Whatever (that were) done by Dr Mahathir during his 22 years were done with the full knowledge, consent and endorsement of the Sarawak BN government.

“His policies were BN’s policies. Why did the leaders of Sarawak BN then not say a single word? Why the praises only?”

Chong asked if they were too ignorant to know the policies were bad, too afraid to speak up or were they only concerned about their personal wellbeing that they were willing to sacrifice the welfare and rights of the general ordinary Sarawakians.

“Many of these Sarawak BN leaders are still in office and had served during Dr Mahathir’s tenure.”

Chong said they should now also answer why they supported Dr Mahathir’s policies during his tenure.

The PH Sarawak chief came out in defence of Dr Mahathir after state leaders like Chief Minster Abang Johari Openg, deputy chief minister and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president James Masing, Sarawak United and Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Dr Sim Kui Hian disparaged the former prime minister.

The chief minister labelled him a “recycled” leader while Masing claimed Dr Mahathir’s acceptance of PH’s decision was that he could then pick his son Mukhriz to succeed him later.

Masing said Dr Mahathir should not be allowed “to push his way around” as the country is not “dia bapa punya” (not his father’s).

Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Abdul Karim Hamzah described PH’s decision as “a disservice to Malaysians” and “taking Malaysians for a ride”.

Sarawak PH today fully endorsed Dr Mahathir’s prime minister candidacy.

Despite that, Chong said DAP had always maintained that BN’s governance is “terrible, full of corruption, cronyism and self-interest, be it during Mahathir’s time, Abdullah Badawi’s time or (Prime Minister) Najib (Razak)’s time”.

Under Najib’s administration, he said, corruption has only gotten from bad to worse, with the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal gaining international scrutiny.

“After more than 60 years in Umno and BN, and at the age of 92, Dr Mahathir (has) finally realised the disservice BN has done to the country.

“He has the decency to admit the mistake by quitting BN. He is even prepared to spend (what remains of) his time, energy and life to topple this kleptocratic regime for the sake of the country.

“Shame on those who had kissed his hand and praised him loudly during his time, but are now blindly following BN,” Chong said. – January 15, 2018.