KUCHING: The Sarawak chief minister’s office today denied that Abang Johari Openg had threatened Putrajaya with secession should Prime Minister Najib Razak delay the devolution of powers to the state.
The allegation which was posted on the Facebook page “Tulun Sabah” was widely circulated which resulted in the chief minister’s office issuing the statement today, saying it was an unscrupulous attempt to strain the cordial relationship between Sarawak and Putrajaya.
Abang Johari was sworn in as chief minister on Jan 13, two days after Adenan Satem passed away from heart complications.
“This office wishes to categorically deny that the chief minister has ever made any such statement and in such a manner, including those on all other issues raised therein, and considers it an unscrupulous attempt to smear the good name of the Chief Minister, strain the State’s cordial relationship with the Federal Government and for any other purposes only known to the originator of the posting,” the statement read.
The statement from the chief minister’s office added that Abang Johari had been falsely quoted as saying that he would lead the state government in leaving the Barisan Nasional coalition should autonomous rights not be returned to Sarawak according to the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
“I have no choice other than to dissolve the Barisan Nasional party in Sarawak, and following that, form a new state government consisting of local Sarawak parties, the leaders of which will form my Cabinet as I no longer want outside interference in regard to my leadership and of the leadership of future generations,” the post allegedly quoted Abang Johari as saying.
It was further added that Abang Johari would “right the wrongs” in history regarding the founding of Sarawak and her “rightful place” in Malaysia.
Representatives from the Chief Minister’s office declined to comment on whether legal action would be taken.
Abang Johari, the former deputy president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), had stated that he would continue Adenan’s initiatives, including the negotiations for further devolution of powers as well as higher oil royalty for Sarawak.
He was the sole successor named and had received unanimous support from the leaders of PBB, the state’s dominant BN component. - Free Malaysia Today
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