Cautioning them against a BN government backlash if they fail to count their blessings, he said that Sarawak has the most liberal policies towards the Chinese of all states in Malaysia.
"A Chinese district officer is unheard of in any other part of the country. Ande nowhere else in Malaysia do you have a Chinese mayor," Kong noted, alluding to the administrative structure where Chinese hold positions not open to them in other states.
"And it is only in Sarawak that you have a Chinese ketua kampung, penghulu, pemancar and Kapitam," Kong said in reference to the community leadership set-up.
Kong, who is Transport Minister, said the state government was also very liberal over the use of the Chinese language and very accomodating to the community practising their religion and traditions.
Nobody really doubts that BN will be returned to power in Sarawak. Only the margin of victory is uncertain.
Kong, who was on a brief visit to Sarawak, said: "It would be unfortunate for the Sarawak Chinese if they decide to throw their weight behind the oppostion.
"They have to understand that should they decide not to give their votes to the Chinese representatives, the other parties in the ruling coalition may use the defeat of SUPP as an excuse to change everything."
Kong said the opposition will not be able to form the next Sarawak state government.
"They may succeed in getting rid of SUPP in some constituencies, but this would only mean diluting Chinese representation in the government," he added. The Chinese make up 20 per cent of the population of Sarawak. SUPP, the Chinese-dominated BN party, is contesting 19 of the 71 seats.
SUPP lost six of the 19 seats it contested in the last election to the DAP, one to PKR and another to a SNAP candidate, who later joined SUPP.
SUPP publicity chief Daniel Ngieng said:"Whether you like it or not, BN is going to form the government after April 16, with or without Chinese representation as the Bumiputras are solidly behind them," he said.
"The Chinese have to vote BN-SUPP for representation in the government. We (SUPP) have shortcomings, but we are changing," he said.
"The opposition may promise UBAH (the DAP election slogan), but they actually don't have any agenda for change. People shouldn't gamble their future."
tunku : kong cho ha is right, only in sarawak we can see the chinese is given all the important post in government.from mayor to department's director.the economy are controlled by the chinese in sarawak.all the major and minor business are controlled by them.there are many many chinese schools too in sarawak.change is not always good.we have seen recently change in egypt,till today egypt is unsettle and in chaos.
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