KUCHING, April 4 — Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen today urged the state government to take proactive steps to engage more Sarawak entrepreneurs and businesses to participate in the Malaysia-China economic co-operation initiated by the federal government.

He said the glaring absence of Sarawak businesses in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s entourage to China recently was a missed opportunity for the state’s business community and Sarawakians.

He expressed regret that none of the 19 signatories from Malaysia involved in the signing of the Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) worth an estimated RM170 billion with the Chinese companies was from Sarawak.

"The Sarawak government, by not proactively participating in the prime minister’s visit and not ensuring that the local Sarawak businesses participate in the trade contingent, was not doing the Sarawak business community a favour,” Chong, who is also the Stampin Member of Parliament, said in a statement.

He said Anwar has shown the right direction for the country by spearheading the inter-governmental and economic co-operation between Malaysia and China.

He added the warm reception by the Chinese government during Anwar’s visit has paved the way for more economic co-operation between China and Malaysia.

"It would be unwise of the Sarawak government not to take full advantage of such initiatives and opportunities,” he said.

He said it is incumbent upon the state government to ensure that the Sarawak businesses are not left out of future opportunities.

"With the presence of five ministers and six deputy ministers from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in the federal government, more should be done to uplift the Sarawak’s economy and to generate more job opportunities for the State.

"I therefore call upon the state government to make more effort to ensure that our business community can tap into the opportunities opened up by the prime minister’s visit in future,” he said, adding that the focus of the the state government should be on how to uplift the economy and help economic recovery.

He also slammed Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) leadership who is continuously harping on the "Sarawak First” slogan that does not bring any benefit to the business community and the Sarawakian people.