Taib takes Ho Leng to task over claim

Taib takes Ho Leng to task over claim 
by Reporters: Jacob Achoi, Johnson K Saai, Geryl Ogilvy Ruekeith, Simon Ingka, Zoee Hillson, Antonia Chiam, Johnathan Chia and Peter Sibon, reporters@theborneopost.com.
 Posted on November 24, 2011, Thursday

KUCHING: Assemblyman’s figure of 100,000 Dayaks working outside Sarawak illogical — CM.

A claim by Wong Ho Leng (DAP-Bukit Assek) that 100,000 Dayaks had migrated to the peninsula to work irked Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, prompting him to ask the opposition leader to substantiate his figure.

Responding to Wong’s debate in the 17th DUN sitting, Taib (BN-Balingian) who was delivering his winding up speech challenged Wong to get his facts correct and admit his mistake.

“The Dayak population today consists of 700,000 people. If really 100,000 or one out of seven Dayak had migrated, then add it with their family members, (say family of five), then some 250,000 people would have migrated out of the state.”

Taib pointed out it would be impossible for the state not to feel the strain of such a massive migration of manpower.

Asking Wong to apologise, he pointed out that the state DAP chairman had miscalculated his figures.

Taib then explained that it was impossible to stop Sarawakians from working abroad considering the open economy of the state.

He added that Sarawakians working abroad in search of a better life (not only for jobs) was a privilege of people living in an open economy as some who were trained overseas opted to work abroad to experience a new way of life.

However, Taib said he knew that many Sarawakians working abroad long to be home but could not because they wanted to achieve financial independence through higher paying jobs there.

Taib then sat down for Wong to counter his response.

Wong re-phrased his statement by pointing out that even if the chief minister did not agree to the figures of his claim, what he wanted to know was what measures the state had taken to attract Dayaks working in Peninsular Malaysia to come back to the state.

Responding to Wong’s clarification, Taib reiterated that the claim of 100,000 locals working in the peninsula was wrong.

Taib then continued his winding up speech, explaining that it was imperative for the government to transform the state’s economy.

“The last 20 years had seen significant economic structure change as evident from the Data of Employment by industries. Check that data and use it as a basis for any criticism in the future. Don’t come up and lecture with figures that are not justifiable,” Taib said.

Wong when met after the sitting, told the press that he did not say 100,000 Dayaks but 100,000 Dayaks and Sarawakians working in Peninsular Malaysia.

He was puzzled why the chief minister was annoyed by his query as he believed it did not touch on any sensitive issue