PDP VP backs president's criticism of partisan interference in Sibu community association
SIBU (June 11): Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) senior vice president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh has voiced support for party president Dato Sri Tiong King Sing's recent remarks criticising the reduction of community leaders into mere 'party assets.'
He stressed the importance of fair and balanced leadership appointments, calling for capable individuals from across the political spectrum to be given the opportunity to serve.
In a statement, Wong referred to Tiong's recent allegation that a political party had interfered in the outcome of the Persatuan Ketua Kaum Masyarakat Cina Sibu Sarawak (Sibu Chinese Community Leaders Association) election.
He described the incident as part of a broader pattern of political meddling in grassroots affairs.
According to Wong, PDP had nominated 14 candidates for the association's executive committee, none of whom were successful.
The Bawang Assan assemblyman claimed the newly elected committee appears heavily aligned with one particular political party, which he said goes against the association's original inclusive spirit.
He also criticised the association's subsequent clarification statement, calling it unconvincing and evasive.
The former Sarawak minister questioned how the association could exert such influence over its own internal election and urged component parties within the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition to address the matter through calm and constructive dialogue.
He emphasised the need for a transparent, fair, and inclusive resolution due to its broader impact on the Chinese community.
Wong said if the association truly wants to be seen as impartial and community-driven, it should welcome representation from all political parties.
'Only then can the association rightfully claim to represent the broader Chinese community, rather than functioning as a partisan 'one-voice' platform,' he said.
He further questioned whether community leaders aligned with a single party would extend help to individuals from differing political backgrounds, noting that such behaviour is becoming increasingly common in Sibu.
Wong praised Tiong for speaking out, saying he exposed what he described as an ongoing attempt by a political party to dominate local influence and treat community positions as political tools.
'The people of Sibu are well aware of the unscrupulous tactics employed by the said party. As the party president rightly pointed out, this party seeks to monopolise influence at the local level.
'If it is truly that dominant, would it also adopt the same attitude during elections? If so, does it still require the support of allied parties? Let it then 'perform' accordingly during elections — and we shall all watch in silence to observe its real influence,' he said.
He again criticised the association's rebuttal as ineffective, asserting: 'Facts speak louder than words.'
'If the association truly wishes to earn the public's trust, it should transparently publish the list of newly elected committee members so the public can assess their political affiliations and backgrounds for themselves. The truth will then become evident to all.'
Wong also warned against excessive reliance on constitutional provisions to justify exclusionary decisions.
He said any objective observer can see the imbalance when a committee consists entirely of members linked to one party, risking turning the association into a partisan body and abandoning its core mission of community service.
He cautioned that such developments could erode the independence of civil society organisations in Sibu.
Wong called on the unnamed political party to stop interfering in grassroots matters, especially in the appointment of community leaders.
He warned that continued involvement could provoke public discontent and weaken the integrity of local associations.
Political parties at the local level should not be leading the charge in sowing division or partisanship, he said.
'Instead, they should serve the public with humility and act as effective bridges between the government and the people, ultimately working for the betterment of the entire Chinese community and its future,' he concluded.
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