KOTA KINABALU: The word ‘ekor’ (tail) is very degrading to the Chinese community and no amount of apology will heal the damaging remark to the Chinese community, said Datuk Dr Roland Chia.
“The Chinese are not animals nor low lives. The Chinese in Sabah and Malaysia were integral parts of the community in the formation of Sabah and Malaysia. To label us as ekor is demeaning to all Chinese Sabahans and Malaysians,” he said in a statement today.
He said the word uttered reflected the inner thoughts and actions of one leader.
“For this reason, I urge our Chinese community to take stock and to reflect when we cast our ballot on November 19, 2022, on whether we should vote for a party that labels us as animals and resort to gutter politics by demeaning a single race as ekor. This will go down as history that a former Sabahan Chief Minister and former federal minister resort to ekor politics. We must reject EKOR politics,” he stressed.
Chia, who is Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, also refuted the claim that there are zero representation of the Chinese in the GRS-BN State Government led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor, citing Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee is a Nominated Assemblyman.
In the government-interest companies (GIC), Chia said Datuk Seri Yee Moh Chai was appointed as the Chairman of Sabah Credit Corporation, Datuk Edward Yong as Chairman of Hyatt International Hotel, Datuk Vincent Pung heads Sabah Development Bank, Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat as Special Advisor on Tourism to the Chief Minister, Datuk Peter Thien as the Special Advisor on Finance and Economy to the Chief Minister, Datuk Adeline Leong as Chairman of Institute for Development Studies (IDS) Sabah and many other Chinese political community leaders have also been appointed to various government positions.
“The Chief Minister has also formed the Sabah Economic Advisory Council (SEAC) whose members are Sabahan Chinese industrialists to advise the Sabah Government.
“The Chief Minister (Hajiji) has also allocated the highest allocation to non-Muslim organisations including the Chinese schools (independent and government), Chinese temples, mission schools, churches and Hindu temples. This year, the GRS-BN State Government provided RM47 million for the purpose and next year RM54 million, as announced by the Chief Minister himself,” he explained.
On the investment front, Chia said many Chinese investors have expressed confidence in the leadership of the Chief Minister in his inclusive and consensus leadership in bringing all parties to form GRS thus creating political stability in Sabah.
“I urge the Chinese community to reject political parties that label us as dogs and cats,” he said.
