By Geryl Ogilvy
KUCHING, June 19: Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan said there was never any need for Democratic Action Party (DAP) to make a circus out of his so-called dual membership issue.
Voon, a former Batu Lintang assemblyman, said he had technically expelled himself from the party by default of being a member of PBK.
He urged Sarawak DAP leaders to take a closer look at Clause III, Rule 3, of the party constitution, which stated that “any member of the Party shall, on becoming a member of any political party or organisation ancillary or subsidiary thereto, cease forthwith to be a member of the Party”.
Despite joining DAP on Aug 1, 1999, as a life member, Voon said the clause applies to all members.
“Chong Chieng Jen (Sarawak DAP chairman) and other DAP leaders better forget about me. They should spend their energy and focus on fulfilling the promises in their election manifesto instead of focusing on me joining Parti Bumi Kenyalang.
“I think this is more important for the people of Sarawak and for DAP,” he told a press conference at his legal firm here today.
Voon was responding to a show-cause letter issued by DAP, dated June 12, which sought an explanation of his dual membership. DAP prohibits its members from holding a valid membership with another political party.
He has been given 14 days to respond to the show cause letter and failure to provide a satisfactory explanation can result in disciplinary action against the newly-minted PBK president.
Voon also said that disciplinary action had been taken against him in the past. In 2010, he was given an indefinite suspension that lasted six months. The former elected representative viewed the term ‘indefinite suspension’ as automatic expulsion.
Prior to the 2011 state election, where Voon was not nominated by DAP to defend his Batu Lintang seat, he claimed he was expelled during a meeting.
“Since I am now back to active politics, there is no reason for DAP to be interested in me anymore by claiming that I am still their member and seeking me to show cause in a letter.
“Please do not pursue my membership or want me to be in the party anymore because I have left. Please understand that I have a right to leave and this time, (there is) no need to expel or suspend me. I think if you want to expel me, I better expel myself now,” he continued.
Reminiscing his days with DAP, Voon said he found it disturbing that the party was always fighting with Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) and not other state governing coalition members, such as Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).
He also voiced his worries that many good leaders in DAP were inactive, had left quietly, resigned, or were expelled or suspended from the party.
He cited notable leaders such as former Bandar Kuching MP, the late Sim Kwang Yang, former Padungan assemblyman Dominique Ng, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How and former Pujut assemblyman Fong Pau Teck as examples.
Voon reminded DAP to focus on its election manifesto, especially the 50 per cent of revenues collected from Sarawak to be returned to the state, as well as the 20 per cent royalty for oil and gas.
He added that it was also the party’s campaign since he joined DAP to seek government recognition of Chinese education by giving proper funding as well as recognising the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).
He said DAP leaders should be contented and comfortable with him now that he is helping to fight for Sarawak’s rights in many areas that the party could not do.
“After all, we should put Sarawak first and not Malaya. We are here not to be agents of anybody but fighting for Sarawak’s cause.” — DayakDaily
