Look at yourself first before accusing

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Democratic Action Party (DAP) should look in the mirror before making baseless allegations and accusing Barisan Nasional (BN) of being racist.

Sabah Umno Wanita assistant secretary Datuk Jainab Ahmad said it was shameful that DAP was still continuing with its cheap tactic of playing on racial sentiments and trying to disunite the people of Sabah in its quest to gain power.

“In the first place, the people know that we in BN stood for the election under one ticket and not based on race or individual component parties. This is unlike the opposition pact Pakatan Rakyat (PR); they are not even in power but they already could not unite under one logo.

“Secondly, before it accuses BN, why doesn’t DAP look at its own PR governments in Penang, Selangor and Kelantan? Even they have their own quota. In BN, whoever is the minister or assistant minister, our role is to serve the rakyat as a whole,” said Jainab.

The Karambunai assemblywoman was commenting on recent remarks by Sabah DAP assistant secretary cum Likas assemblyman Junz Wong who said Sabah BN leadership appeared to be marginalizing the Chinese community.

Junz had questioned if Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman purposely reduced the number of Chinese representation in the state cabinet to punish the community for backing the opposition in the 13th general election.

Jainab, who has been promoted to Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister under the new cabinet line-up, said both the Prime Minister and Chief Minister had taken conciliatory and dignified tones on the issue of the Chinese representation.

“They tell all the YBs to work and serve the rakyat and fulfil the promises made by BN, because our manifesto is a promise, ‘Aku Janji.’ The opposition on the other hand said their manifesto is just

a manifesto, not a promise that must be kept.

“I sincerely hope the people, young and old, know how to differentiate what is right and not be suck in by the lies and hatred the opposition continuously gives to them, especially through the Internet,” she said.

BN managed to retain power after securing a simple majority in the highly anticipated GE13, which saw a further decrease in the number of seats the coalition has in parliament.

The state BN government started a new term with only two ethnic Chinese in its federal cabinet after both MCA and Gerakan, who recorded their worst ever election performance on May 5, decided not to take up any ministerial or other posts.

In Sabah, BN maintained its overwhelming dominance, despite losing a higher number of seats to PR.

DAP took a swing at the state BN leadership after it appointed only two ethnic Chinese as full ministers in its state cabinet, as compared to three in the previous term.

Jainab, as well as another Sabah Umno leader Datuk Bolkiah Ismail, rejected DAP’s accusation as baseless and a mere attempt to gain political mileage.

“In Semenanjung, even when MCA did not want to be appointed, the PM said BN serves all irrespective of race or religious background. The decrease in Chinese representation is a non issue.

“My advise to DAP is to stop politicising matters we are not interested in. We want to work but they are only interested in pointing fingers and complaining, not resolving issues. It is BN’s YBs who resolve issues faced by the people.

“What I see is that when people want their problems solved, they go to BN because they know only BN has the sincerity and political will to bring about real changes. Sadly however, some of them turn around and voted along racial lines comes the election, rejecting BN when it was us who seriously worked for them,” she said.

--THE BORNEO POST