KUCHING, Feb 15: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) strongly disapproves the practice by politicians’ to elevate their status by using fake degrees or certificates.
Its Youth chief, Michael Tiang, said a good leader would not just rely on his or her academic qualifications alone to be recognised as a good leader.
But trying to alleviate their positions by using fake degrees or certificates tantamount to deceiving the government and the people; hence, such politicians should resign from whatever portfolios they are holding.
“We don’t care whether a leader graduates from a university or is a professional or not. A certificate from a university or college is not the only criterion for assessing whether a leader can really serve the people.
“As long as he or she shows the ability to serve by bringing progress and development to the community and nation, then we can all accept and regard that person as a good leader.
“However, if they deliberately and knowingly involve in the falsification of their academic qualifications in order to gain acknowledgement or to seek higher positions in public offices, then it’s an act of deceiving the government and the people, which would definitely affect the image of our government,” said Tiang in a statement today.
In view of the fake-degree scandal involving several Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders, Tiang called on Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to immediately verify the integrity of all cabinet members.
He opined that the cheats should quit their positions for criminal investigations to take place.
“If they are convicted, they should not be a part in the cabinet to avoid Malaysia’s integrity being tarnished at the international level,” he said.
Tiang said he hoped Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen and other state PH lawmakers would immediately propose to the Prime Minister to take stern action against unscrupulous cabinet members. — DayakDaily
