By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 9: Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Dato Seri Tiong King Sing has instructed party members to withdraw from the Sibu Chinese Community Leaders Association over a politician’s interference in the association’s elections.
In a Facebook post on Sunday (June 8), he said he has been receiving complaints recently from the public regarding a politician, whom he did not name, who has been persistently interfering in the election of committee members for the association.
“It appears this person is attempting to manipulate the outcome through party influence, sparking strong discontent among the people. In response, I issued a stern warning to the political figure concerned—you must respect the established selection mechanism and, above all, refrain from treating community leadership positions as your party’s private assets.
“Such blatant disregard for the principles of fairness, impartiality, and transparency—values at the heart of the selection system—must cease immediately,” he said, adding that it was his final warning.
He claimed that the political party in question has failed to uphold the ideals of power-sharing and inclusiveness, losing sight of its original purpose of serving the people.
Tiong, who is also the Bintulu MP and Dudong assemblyman, said he has evidence that the political party has issued instructions to favour their party members in the election of office bearers for the association.
The federal Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture also stated that the party even offered a token position to a candidate from another party, describing it as a ‘performance’.
“Since these political leaders are so aggressive and dominant in ‘securing’ local community leadership roles, will they also be capable of winning election seats on their own without the support of allied parties?
“Moreover, the appointment of community leaders is meant to serve the public. It must never be reduced to a tool for power struggles or status displays by political parties.
“I have instructed all PDP community leaders to withdraw from the association. We do not need their so-called ‘mercy’, nor are we interested in being part of a body that has become another political stage for a party. We will respectfully step aside,” he said. — DayakDaily
