Kota Kinabalu: Tanjong Kapor Assemblyman Datuk Ben Chong Chen Bin of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) denied his remarks that the Chinese do not deserve the appointment of a Chinese Deputy Chief Minister were meant to offend the community.
He said they were based on reality as most of them voted for the opposition in the recent Sabah election.
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Hence, he said, the three Warisan assemblymen had distorted the statement for political gain and did not reflect his true stance towards the community in Sabah.
“The allegation that I insulted the Chinese community is baseless and malicious. I represent a majority-Chinese constituency and have served this community for years.
I have never, at any time, demeaned their position,” he said, in a statement.
Warisan assemblymen Calvin Chong (Elopura), Alex Wong (Karamunting) and Alex Thien (Tanjong Papat) had criticised Chong.
“I explained is that appointments are the prerogative of the Chief Minister, based on current political considerations. It has nothing to do with deeming any community as unfit,” he said.
“This is narrow politics. They cited one phrase while ignoring the full explanation. This is how Warisan plays the race card to provoke anger,” said Chong, who was initially with Warisan.
He reaffirmed GRS’s commitment to power-sharing in Sabah’s multiracial society and its appreciation of the Chinese community’s contributions to the state’s development.
“GRS has never sidelined any community. The Chief Minister has repeatedly emphasised the commitment to ensure participation from all communities, including the Chinese, in government,” he said.
Chong also denied claims that he had promised positions to anyone. “This is another attempt to smear and confuse. I have always maintained that appointments are the Chief Minister’s prerogative.”
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