This includes the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART), a Sarawak telecommunications company, and a new boutique airline operated by Hornbill Skyways, the state-owned carrier.

Instead, the Sarawak DAP chief said the party would focus on improving the livelihoods of Sarawakians, particularly in agriculture, manufacturing and tourism.

Chong said more funding should be provided to develop the agricultural sector by making it more systematic, from production to processing and marketing.

He said small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the industry were struggling, leading to the rise in prices of goods in Sarawak.

“In the manufacturing sector, grants and incentives given by the government to push for modernisation have been insufficient,” he told FMT in an interview.

Chong also took aim at interim chief minister Abang Johari Openg’s track record in developing Sarawak’s tourism industry, pointing out that Abang Johari had been the state minister in charge of the sector for nearly 10 years.

“We have a lot of potential, but Sabah is doing a lot better. Abang Johari has been Sarawak’s tourism minister for many years. But tourism is miserable here. If he can’t do well in one ministry, how does one expect him to do well when he is in charge of the whole state,” he said, adding that Abang Johari had done a “lousy job”.

He said the government must allow more flights into Sarawak as the number of incoming flights had been reduced by 40% due to the pandemic.

“If the government can cut the state emergency short and hold a state election, they should not be restricting flights.”

Sarawak goes to the polls on Dec 18 with early voting on Dec 14.