Do not base Premier’s statement solely on ‘soundbites’, PH Sarawak leaders told

KUCHING (July 27): Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sarawak leaders should have listened to the ‘Keluar Sekejap’ podcast in its entirety first, instead of twisting the facts based on ‘soundbites’.

In pointing this out, Chief Political Secretary to the Premier of Sarawak Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman said PH Sarawak leaders had taken things out of context with regard to what the Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg had said about PH parties in the podcast.

“While it may be difficult for PH Sarawak leaders to hear about the achievements of the Sarawak government led by Premier during the podcast, I advise them to listen to the podcast in its entirety, and not only for the ‘soundbites’, instead of deciding to twist the facts and take things out of context.

“What the Premier meant was that the collaboration between GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) and parties forming the federal government, including PH, did not exist in Sarawak.

“If anything, the Premier has been a gentleman politician in dealing with Opposition parties in Sarawak and at the federal level, and his achievements and track record are there for all to see,” said Fazzrudin, the assemblyman for Tupong, in a statement today, which was issued in response to a news report in which two PH Sarawak leaders had slammed Abang Johari for saying PH parties DAP and PKR ‘do not exist in Sarawak’.

DAP’s Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong was quoted as saying that it was an ‘arrogant statement’ from Abang Johari, which ‘was completely uncalled for’.

In response to Yong describing the Premier as being ‘arrogant’, Fazzruddin opined that on the contrary, it was the DAP lawmaker that was arrogant in disregarding the impact that the Premier had made on Sarawakians and the effectiveness of his policies.

“It is also arrogant of her to discredit Sarawakians exercising their democratic rights to support GPS when she said the DAP constituents were only doing the same thing,” said Fazzruddin.

He also said Abang Johari and the GPS leadership had always been committed to ensuring political stability in Malaysia, including working together with parties that formed the federal government.

“However, we will not tolerate any attacks that are malicious, unjustified and disrespectful from these parties,” stressed Fazzrudin.