HOLDING CENTRE-COURT: Chong, flanked by Chiew (left) and Dr John, fielding questions at the press conference.
BINTULU: Setting May 5, a Sunday, as polling day for the 13th general election clearly shows that the Election Commission (EC) is insensitive to the needs of the rural folk in Sarawak and Sabah.
State DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen claimed he received many complaints immediately after the EC announced the nomination and polling dates yesterday.
“It is causing inconveniences to our supporters, voters and even our volunteers,” he told a press conference here yesterday.
“Most rural natives are Christians with church service in the morning, and many of them have to travel long distances to vote.
“In addition, voting stations in some rural areas closed at about 1 or 2pm.”
On another matter, Chong, who is also Kota Sentosa assemblyman, challenged Bintulu incumbent Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing to come clean on the PKFZ scandal and the RM10 million cash hand-out to then MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.
He said Tiong needed to prove his credibility as the BN had said on numerous occasions that all their candidates for the forthcoming polls were `clean’.
On Tiong’s challenge to him (Chong) to work together to fight cyber gambling in Bintulu, Chong said he accepted the challenge.
“We accepted the challenge, but the pre-condition would be Pakatan Rakyat (PR) forming the next government. The simple reason being that to close down cyber gambling centres you need the police.
“We have to be in-charge of the police and the Home Ministry in order to carry out enforcement.”
Also present at the press conference were state DAP deputy chairman cum Kidurong assemblyman Chiew Chin Sing and DAP Bintulu deputy chairman Dr John Anthony Brian.