By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, Nov 18: Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong has criticised Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) leaders for failing to participate in the debate on the amendment of Article 16 of the Sarawak Constitution at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) last week.
She claimed that SUPP leaders were not truthful to the public and tried to gain political mileage by twisting the issue in the amendment of Article 16 of the Sarawak Constitution.
“It is highly uncalled for SUPP to mislead the public by making allegations which the law does not prescribe.
“This newly amended Article 16 tabled by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) does not have the word “Sarawakian” in it and any Sarawak-born person’s children are eligible to be elected as elected representatives of Sarawak Legislative Assembly.
“Yet, SUPP held a press conference outside DUN and repeatedly misinformed the public that only Sarawakian is eligible to be elected into the Sarawak State Assembly.
“SUPP is not telling the truth of Article 16 as prescribed in the Sarawak State Constitution but trying to twist the issue to support the amendment to gain cheap publicity,” she said in a statement.
Yong who was present at the DUN during the debate last week observed that none of the seven assemblymen from SUPP dared to stand up to debate such an important piece of the bill which contained an amendment of Article 16 in the Sarawak State Constitution.
She also noted that all of them did not object to the injustice done towards Sarawak by virtue of the amendment to Article 16 of the Sarawak Constitution.
Yong pointed out that the DUN chambers are the correct forum to raise people’s issues and concerns but SUPP elected representatives chose to be quiet and refused to raise their points of support to the amendment proposed.
“As to why none of the SUPP elected representatives participated in the debate in the DUN on the said Amendment Bill, the public deserves a full and frank explanation from the President of SUPP (Datuk Seri) Dr Sim Kui Hian.
“Are they worried that their names be recorded down in history as the persons who sell out the last bastion of Sarawak’s right and welcome non-Sarawakians to stand as candidates and be elected to represent Sarawak?” she questioned. — DayakDaily
