Kota Kinabalu: Veteran Sabah politician Datuk David Chong Ket Sui voiced frustration over the Chinese community’s support for opposition Parti Warisan in the recent 17th Sabah polls.
Chong placed the blame on Warisan Vice President Datuk Wong Hong Jun, who during the campaign urged the community to give their full support while claiming that Warisan would win 41 seats and form the government.
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He said this was what led the Chinese community to now regret upon realising they have no representation in the Sabah Cabinet
“The Chinese community, fearing they would be left out of the government, decided to support Warisan during the election. But the outcome was the complete opposite,” said Chong.
He said the Warisan campaign led by Wong had effectively convinced the Chinese community to reject DAP by capitalising on public sentiment for change.
However, he said Warisan fell short of winning sufficient Muslim Bumiputera and Kadazandusun majority seats, but managed to wipe out DAP candidates contesting under the Pakatan Harapan banner through aggressive politicking.
He said Warisan and Wong had attacked Pakatan Harapan and DAP, the very parties that once helped them form the Sabah Government.
“We do not know if in future you may need them again to form the government, but the relationship has now been damaged.
“We should remain cordial with our opponents, as no single party was expected to command a majority under the current political landscape,” he said.
Chong said while Warisan focused on attacking Pakatan Harapan and DAP, it allowed PAS to make inroads into Sabah by winning the Karambunai seat under the Perikatan Nasional banner.
He blamed Warisan for causing the Chinese community to lose their voice in the government despite the appointment of three nominated assembly members by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
“They do not have the voice to highlight Chinese interests because they are only appointed members, not elected. We need a full minister for our voices to be heard in government.
“You need to be a minister to have the power to make decisions,” he said.
