DAP supports Shafie Apdal for PM9
(The New Sarawak) – DAP SARAWAK has thrown its support for Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal as the opposition’s candidate for the Prime Minister’s post, citing his principled stance against corruption as among reasons why he deserves the premiership.
Party chairman Chong Chieng Jen said before the 14th general election, Shafie, who is Sabah Chief Minister had spoken up against the kleptocratic practises during the Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak’s adminstration.
“He was then persecuted but stood his ground. He led Warisan and went all out against the kleptocrat Barisan Nasional in the 14th G.E,” Chong said in a statement.
And while Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin staged an internal coup to topple Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as PM, Shafie stood his ground and refused to work with Umno lawmakers.
This was among the five reasons listed by Chong on why Shafie deserved to be the PM.
Another reason was that three months after the Pakatan Harapan government was toppled, Dr Mahathir and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim could still not agree on who would be the next PM if PH returned to Putrajaya.
This was why Shafie could be the alternative candidate to block the political impasse.
Chong added that a new PM was urgently needed due to the blatant abuses in the four-month-old Perikatan Nasional government led by Umno and PAS.
These include questionable political appointments to government-linked companies, high-profile white collar criminal cases being dropped and the manipulation of government institutions for political means.
Chong added that Shafie’s two years as Sabah Chief Minister has shown him to be a leader who truly promotes religious freedom and racial harmony, unlike many of the West Malaysian politicians especially those from UMNO and PAS.
“With Datuk Seri Shafie as the prime minister of Malaysia, it will definitely improve the East-West relationship and imbalanced development between East and West Malaysia. It will also facilitate the fight for more rights for the two East Malaysian states,” Chong added.
