'If you don't help us, we won't help you'
Published: Mar 5, 2011 10:25 AM | Updated: Mar 5, 2011 4:34 PM
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s infamous "you help me, I help you" remark at the Sibu by-election has today reverberated in Kuching’s Borneo Convention Centre as state BN leaders meet to gear up for the upcoming state polls.
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s infamous "you help me, I help you" remark at the Sibu by-election has today reverberated in Kuching’s Borneo Convention Centre as state BN leaders meet to gear up for the upcoming state polls.
Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP) president and Deputy Chief Minister George Chan told some 5,000 delegates at the state BN convention that if voters refuse to back BN, the ruling coalition will not help them when it returns to power.
He recounted the bitter lesson from the Sibu by-election in which Najib had given RM15 million to Chinese schools, but BN "tetap mati" (still died).
"I always believe in 'you help me, I help you’, and that it is not right if 'I help you, you makan (eat) me'. I don't believe our people are like that."
Then he issued his warning.
"If you don't help us, when we are back (in power), we don't help you. That’s our strategy."
Chan said this when debating the keynote address delivered earlier today by Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Chan's session was closed to media but his speech could be heard through a loudspeaker set up outside the convention hall.
SUPP suffered a major setback last May when it failed to defend the Sibu parliamentary seat in a by-election. The Chinese-majority seat had been a BN stronghold.
New strategy to be unveiled
Chan told BN delegates that the coming state polls will be an uphill task because the opposition is expected to adopt a "rough" campaigning approach, which had been witnessed at the Sibu by-election.
He strongly hinted that BN should level up to the opposition in the coming state polls.
"We are gentlemen, it is very hard fighting someone who is not gentlemen. So what should we do? It depends on you. Do you understand what I said?"
"If they use knife, and you say 'cannot use knife in this boxing match'. You think you can win?"
The veteran politician referred to Sun Tze's ‘Art of War’, stressing that BN should understand the opposition well in the lead-up to the state election.
He said the opposition parties are “experts” in creating perception and propaganda, spread lies and portray themselves as a feasible alternative that would do "wonderful things" should they come to power.
Therefore BN should focus on how to counter the allegations raised by the opposition, he said.
"If they go the press, we go to the press. If they go to Facebook, we go to Facebook. Our people are many more compared with them."
Chan revealed that BN has developed a new strategy which will be unveiled at the state election.
Defer unpopular policies
Meanwhile, Chan also called on the federal government to defer unpopular policies until BN is done with the state election.
"For example, stop the increase of petrol prices. We hope the federal leaders will not increase it in the next two to three months," he said.
During today’s one-day convention, held to consolidate the ruling coalition before it faces the state election expected to be called next month, BN leaders from the component parties called on each other to enhance coalition unity.
Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president James Jemut Masing also told the delegates that the coming state polls will be a tough battle as the opposition parties are well organised with resources from rich states such as Penang and Selangor, along with very motivated campaigners.
Chan stressed that all the "four teams" - SUPP, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) - must work together and stop all internal bickering.
"Don't try to be funny now," he said.
Earlier, Masing rebutted allegations that Sarawak’s aging leaders have become a liability for BN.
Instead, he said they possessed the wisdom gained through their long-time experience in government. He urged younger leaders in the coalition to be patient.
Following this, he declared that PRS will give its full support to Taib until the chief minister has finished implementing his plans for Sarawak.
"You still have an unfinished development agenda for Sarawak. We will continue to support you."
Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP) president and Deputy Chief Minister George Chan told some 5,000 delegates at the state BN convention that if voters refuse to back BN, the ruling coalition will not help them when it returns to power.He recounted the bitter lesson from the Sibu by-election in which Najib had given RM15 million to Chinese schools, but BN "tetap mati" (still died).
"I always believe in 'you help me, I help you’, and that it is not right if 'I help you, you makan (eat) me'. I don't believe our people are like that."
Then he issued his warning.
"If you don't help us, when we are back (in power), we don't help you. That’s our strategy."
Chan said this when debating the keynote address delivered earlier today by Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Chan's session was closed to media but his speech could be heard through a loudspeaker set up outside the convention hall.
SUPP suffered a major setback last May when it failed to defend the Sibu parliamentary seat in a by-election. The Chinese-majority seat had been a BN stronghold.
New strategy to be unveiled
Chan told BN delegates that the coming state polls will be an uphill task because the opposition is expected to adopt a "rough" campaigning approach, which had been witnessed at the Sibu by-election.
He strongly hinted that BN should level up to the opposition in the coming state polls.
"We are gentlemen, it is very hard fighting someone who is not gentlemen. So what should we do? It depends on you. Do you understand what I said?"
"If they use knife, and you say 'cannot use knife in this boxing match'. You think you can win?"The veteran politician referred to Sun Tze's ‘Art of War’, stressing that BN should understand the opposition well in the lead-up to the state election.
He said the opposition parties are “experts” in creating perception and propaganda, spread lies and portray themselves as a feasible alternative that would do "wonderful things" should they come to power.
Therefore BN should focus on how to counter the allegations raised by the opposition, he said.
"If they go the press, we go to the press. If they go to Facebook, we go to Facebook. Our people are many more compared with them."
Chan revealed that BN has developed a new strategy which will be unveiled at the state election.
Defer unpopular policies
Meanwhile, Chan also called on the federal government to defer unpopular policies until BN is done with the state election.
"For example, stop the increase of petrol prices. We hope the federal leaders will not increase it in the next two to three months," he said.
During today’s one-day convention, held to consolidate the ruling coalition before it faces the state election expected to be called next month, BN leaders from the component parties called on each other to enhance coalition unity.
Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president James Jemut Masing also told the delegates that the coming state polls will be a tough battle as the opposition parties are well organised with resources from rich states such as Penang and Selangor, along with very motivated campaigners.Chan stressed that all the "four teams" - SUPP, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) - must work together and stop all internal bickering.
"Don't try to be funny now," he said.
Earlier, Masing rebutted allegations that Sarawak’s aging leaders have become a liability for BN.
Instead, he said they possessed the wisdom gained through their long-time experience in government. He urged younger leaders in the coalition to be patient.
Following this, he declared that PRS will give its full support to Taib until the chief minister has finished implementing his plans for Sarawak.
"You still have an unfinished development agenda for Sarawak. We will continue to support you."
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