“I think his (Abang Johari’s) intention is to smear my name as I am the only deputy minister from Sarawak. I have not seen or spoken to him for the past two months,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

Chong, who is also the deputy domestic trade and consumer affairs minister, was speaking after opening a convention in Kuching, Sarawak.

He went on to say that no Sarawakian, be it a deputy minister, an elected representative or even an ordinary Sarawakian, would “harbour the idea of abolishing the immigration autonomy that Sarawak enjoys”.

Chong went on to challenge Abang Johari to name the deputy minister in question, adding that the latter should not make a general statement that could create misgivings about anyone, especially at the federal level.

Earlier today, Chong’s successor to the Bandar Kuching parliamentary seat, Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen also urged Abang Johari to name the deputy minister who had made the suggestion.

Yii told FMT that Pakatan Harapan (PH) has always acknowledged and respected the special autonomy given to Sabah and Sarawak under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

Yesterday, Abang Johari was quoted as saying that he had recently shot down the proposal for Sarawak to give up its autonomy on immigration matters.

“There was this deputy minister who approached me and suggested that we abolish our immigration rights. The person said to me, ‘It’s about time for us (Sarawak) not to have immigration control’.

“I said no,” Abang Johari was quoted by Bernama as saying, adding that the state would defend its powers on immigration matters.