‘Arrogant’ Abang Jo slammed for saying DAP, PKR don’t exist in S’wak

DAP’s Pending assemblyman Violet Yong criticised Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg for his claim that PKR and DAP ‘do not exist’ in the state, while Sarawak PKR leader Abun Sui Anyit (right) said it was a wakeup call for him.

PETALING JAYA: A DAP assemblyman has slammed Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg for jokingly saying that the party and PKR do not exist in the state due to Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) dominance.

Four-term Pending assemblyman Violet Yong said the GPS chairman’s statement disrespected the democratic rights of Sarawakians who voted for DAP and PKR in the past.

“That’s an arrogant statement from Abang Jo which is completely uncalled for,” the Sarawak DAP organising secretary told FMT.

Yong, one of only two DAP assemblymen in Sarawak, also criticised the GPS state government for not setting aside allocations for rural transformation and minor rural projects to opposition representatives.

“It’s a stark example of how GPS is full of itself,” she said.

Abang Johari made the quip during a recent episode of the Keluar Sekejap podcast.

Speaking to Khairy Jamaluddin, the Sarawak premier confirmed that GPS intends to contest all 82 seats at the next Sarawak state election.

He expressed confidence that GPS’s decision would not affect ties with PKR and DAP as federal and state politics were separate matters.

He said disputes over seat allocations would only arise “if they (PKR and DAP) want to clash”.

When Khairy responded by saying that DAP and PKR would not exist in Sarawak unless they clash with GPS, Abang Johari retorted: “They don’t exist now either.”

Meanwhile, Sarawak PKR leader Abun Sui Anyit said he appreciated Abang Johari’s statement and personally viewed it as a challenge to prove the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu president wrong.

The senator said he understood that Abang Johari, as GPS chairman, needs to make such statements for public consumption to “gain political merit”.

“Whether that is true or not, it is up to the people of Sarawak to assess,” said the PKR central committee member.

“There’s no need to overreact to his remarks,” adding that Abang Jo’s continued support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the federal level is what matters most.

“I thank him for that statement as it’s a wakeup call for me. On that premise, I hope GPS or Abang Jo will not blame us if we show him that we do in fact exist in Sarawak.”