Opposition-Tun Dr Mahathir Pact An 'act Of Convenience' - Sarawak CM
SIBU, April 18 (Bernama) -- The opposition's decision to work with Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed showed they had no stand, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He described the collaboration as no more than an 'act of convenience' to achieve their political agenda.
"In the past, DAP opposition leaders described Dr Mahathir as a dictator and self-serving, but today the situation has changed and they are now good friends.
"It gives the impression of the DAP as being without any principles in fighting for the people," he said when officiating the "Harmony Nite: United We Stand" programme at Sibu Gateway tonight.
Abang Johari also condemned Tun Mahathir's statement alleging that Sarawakians were lazy hence why the state failed to develop rapidly.
He said Sarawak would have become more developed had Tun Mahathir been diligent in visiting the state during his 22-year reign as Prime Minister.
The people of Sarawak, he said, were very diligent, talented in many fields, and many of them had achieved success in the oil and gas industry both domestically and internationally.
"That's why I set up Petros because we have the right to participate in the oil and gas industry and we do it according to the federal constitution rather than playing up sentiments or emotions and we demanded what is enshrined in the constitution," he said.
Abang Johari is not bothered by the criticisms of the former prime minister and said he would continue to focus on claiming Sarawak's rights that had been eroded or taken by the federal government.
He said he needed a strong mandate from the 14th general election to enable him to stake Sarawak's claim under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA1963).
-- BERNAMA
