Melanie’s claim receiving RM5 million surprises Hiew

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Hiew

KOTA KINABALU: Newly elected Luyang DAP assemblyman Hiew King Cheu is totally surprised by the move made by Melanie Chia to lodge a police report over the alleged RM80 million that was given to Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Yong Teck Lee and the RM5 million for her.

He said this was news to many people in Sabah who were astonished by the fact that there was something that they did not know about, especially on the RM5 million part.

Hiew said he had received many advice and calls from the voters in Luyang that he should seek justice over the matter, and for this he is consulting with the DAP panel of legal advisors on the next course of action. A defamation action against Melanie may be considered a proper response.

He warned that the former Luyang assemblywoman should be aware of the many slanderous comments made of him in the SAPP coffee shop ceramahs in Foh Sang, which were heard and recorded by many people, and these are strong evidence of high-level defamation which could be used against them under Sections 499 and 500 of the Penal Code.

“The question is why always pick on me, is it solely because the people have elected me as their representative in Luyang? Everyone is saying ‘be a good loser and accept the people’s decision’. Very coincidently, Melanie Chia also said that she will respect the wishes of the voters in N16, Luyang. For that, I salute her noble move and decision,” he said in a statement yesterday.

In her police report on Tuesday, Melanie claimed that rumour-mongers were spreading widely in Sabah, especially in the urban areas via coffee shop talks and SMS as well as through the social media such as Facebook, that the SAPP president had allegedly received RM80 million to split the votes and help the Barisan Nasional win in the 13th general election. She was given RM5 million and was the only person in the party who had benefited.

Hiew added all opposition parties have to move forward as the road ahead is rough and tough.

“We, the opposition, should work side by side for the people’s interest and well-being and not fight each other. Maybe come next round the situation will be the same like now, having the opposition killing each other and the BN laughing away. This is a lesson that we must all learn, or else the BN will still remain in power in the next round.

“Vote splitting will be a condemned thing in any election. Many seats were lost due to the splitting of votes, and I must thank the smart voters in DUN Luyang, Api Api, Likas, Inanam, Kepayan, and Parliament Penampang and Kota Kinabalu for concentrating their votes on Pakatan Rakyat candidates to make them win,” he said.