KUCHING: Batu Kitang State assemblyman Dato Ir Lo Khere Chiang has raised concerns over what he describes as a contradiction between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s recent statements on coalition unity and the ongoing antagonism displayed by DAP Sarawak toward Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
Lo was responding to remarks made by Anwar during the Madani Government retreat in Port Dickson, where the Prime Minister praised his administration’s strength, crediting it to the unity among coalition partners and expressing gratitude to GPS leaders for their support.
“If this is the unity he refers to, how do we explain DAP Sarawak’s constant criticism and undermining of GPS?” Lo questioned.
He recalled that in early 2023, national DAP leaders, including Anthony Loke and Nga Kor Ming, made a public apology in Sarawak and promised to “reset” ties with the state. However, Lo said that DAP Sarawak’s continued attacks on GPS policies suggest otherwise.
“If that apology was genuine, they would have shown the political maturity to let Sarawak-based parties lead,” he said. “But what we see instead is one face offering apologies and another launching attacks soon after.”
Lo also highlighted that Sarawak does not lack opposition voices, pointing to parties like Parti Bumi Kenyalang which, despite being critical, remain focused on local issues. He argued that what Sarawak does not need is a Malayan-based party using the state to push federal narratives that may not align with Sarawak’s interests.
He further expressed concern about recent media reports implying rifts between the Premier and Deputy Premier of Sarawak. “These kinds of baseless stories don’t just appear on their own. If they’re not originating from the Peninsula, they’re certainly being echoed by parties connected to it,” he said.
Lo questioned whether national figures such as Anthony Loke and Nga Kor Ming were turning a blind eye to DAP Sarawak’s actions while publicly advocating unity.
“If DAP Sarawak genuinely believes in checks and balances, they should form a Sarawak-based party. Don’t use Sarawak as a vessel for Peninsular politics,” he said.
He cautioned that the ongoing hostility from DAP Sarawak threatens to reduce the Prime Minister’s message of unity to mere rhetoric.
By Connie Chieng