File photo for illustration purposes.
SIBU (June 8): The appointment of community leaders should be about what the people want, instead of about going along with rigid arbitrary guidelines, said Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) treasurer-general Ting Huat Sing.
Adding on, he also said the explanation given by Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Bawang Assan branch chairman Senator Robert Lau, which was out in the press, did not clarify the processes involved in selecting community leaders in Sibu.
What Lau did, said Ting, was continuing to create the wrong perception over PDP’s role in the whole process.
“The senator has not addressed the fact that SUPP continues to have two representatives in the committee (overseeing the selection of community leaders in Sibu) – himself and Michael Tiang, who are looking after their party’s interest.
“The other parties, including PDP, are only allowed to have one representative each in the committee,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Ting also stressed that Lau could not guarantee that SUPP had no political agenda in recommending their candidates for the community leader posts in Sibu.
“SUPP has long been using the community-leader platform to shore up its own base by turning these positions into political bargaining chips.
“So when it comes to casting bad light over PDP just to cover up its own abuse of the system, PDP just cannot remain silent.
“Therefore, we demand that Senator Lau be transparent in disclosing the details of those previously chosen to become community leaders – announce how many of them are actually from the urban areas, but appointed as community leaders for several rural areas.
“Also, he (Lau) should inform the public whether his party’s (SUPP) own recommendations are actually based on the three standards that he has mentioned – that every candidate must be below the age of 70; is a resident of the specified jurisdiction; and is proficient in either Bahasa Malaysia or English.
“We, at PDP, are more than willing to replace our candidates should they violate any of these standards.
“Somehow, Senator Lau did not reveal anything about the SUPP’s candidates; as a senator, he must think before making any baseless remark, because in today’s world, it’s easy to do fact-checks,” added Ting.
He continued on by saying that all political parties must pay more attention to the Sibu people, especially those in Covid-19 Red Zones.
“Come out and help them with any assistance that they might need.
“Stop politicising and do more things that are important and meaningful,” he pointed out.