By Karen Bong
KUCHING, April 12: “You think you will get a prize if you call the ambulance first? No.”
That was the remarks from Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, who called out what he described as a misplaced and disappointing political tussle over who dialled for emergency services first during a recent incident involving a frail elderly man who collapsed at a coffeeshop in Kenyalang Park Commercial Centre.
Wee stressed that the focus should be on the well-being of the man and the compassion and humanity shown in responding to his distress — not on claiming credit.
“Is that man alright now? Have we informed the family (when the incident happened)? Does he need help? That is what we should be asking.
“Who called the ambulance first, is that important? Is that even the issue?” he questioned during his ShallWeeTalk live session with the community today.
Wee emphasised that in emergency situations, it is every citizen’s responsibility to respond, not a moment for political one-upmanship.
“When you see someone in need, it is your duty as a citizen — as a Kuchingite and as a Sarawakian — to react and help. Why are we arguing about who called first?” he further questioned.
Wee was responding to an online spat, allegedly sparked by Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong who accused the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Pending of falsely claiming they have called for the ambulance, asserting instead that her Democratic Action Party (DAP) team had taken the lead in providing aid and alerting emergency services.
In a social media post shared on Sarawak Public Feedback Facebook page, she said her team rushed to assist the man and contacted the Malaysia Civil Defence Force (APM), alleging that SUPP members “didn’t call the ambulance yet dare to claim they did.”
SUPP Pending responded with a statement refuting Yong’s claims, stating they had indeed called emergency services and had records to prove it. They accused Yong of misleading the public and politicising what should have been an act of compassion, reminding the public that “everyone has access to the ambulance hotline — not just the Rocket (DAP).”
“If ‘saving lives’ becomes a matter of claiming credit, if even ‘saving lives’ is used to attack political opponents and put on a political show, it clearly shows that the YB has not learned from the previous incident involving the Heart Centre. Not only has she once again made baseless accusations without verifying the facts, but she has also politicised the work of saving lives,” read the post shared yesterday (April 11).
According to several postings on Sarawak Public Feedback’s Facebook page, it was believed that both DAP and SUPP members were at the scene and claimed to have called emergency services. The man was eventually taken to the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) for treatment.
Wee said the entire episode was an unfortunate example of misplaced priorities.
“When you are admitted to the emergency room, the doctor doesn’t ask if you’re from DAP, SUPP, PRS or PDP. Their duty is to save lives. So even if you were the one who called first, then what? You want to prove it? For what? So, please.”
He added that such petty squabbles only draw public ridicule and distract from more pressing issues affecting the people, including matters like rising tariffs, infrastructure safety, and public welfare.
“There are bigger issues to focus on — like the collapsed heritage building wall in Padungan or the man who fell from Tun Salahuddin Bridge and went missing. These are the moments when we should show care, unity and leadership, not fight over who called an ambulance first,” he stressed.
The Mayor called for a return to compassion and civic duty, saying, “Even if you didn’t call, someone else would have. It doesn’t matter who was first or last — what matters is that someone cared enough to act. It is not about getting recognition. That’s the spirit we need in our community.”
He concluded by urging elected representatives and the public alike to prioritise what truly matters. “If even saving a life becomes a political performance, then we have truly lost the plot.” — DayakDaily
