Chong denies DAP tried to pinch SWP assemblyman

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KUCHING: State DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen made it clear yesterday that the party had never attempted to pinch any of the two SWP assemblymen.

Chong, who is also Kota Sentosa assemblyman, said the party had never approached the SWP assemblyman as alleged by SWP president Larry Sng, but instead it was the SWP assemblyman who approached him (Chong).

“What happened was one of the two state assemblymen (from SWP) approached me and mentioned to me that SWP did not have a clear direction as to where to go for now.

“As such, he had lost confidence in the party and would like to join DAP,” he said in a press conference after the morning session of the State Legislative Assembly sitting here yesterday.

Chong, who is also Bandar Kuching MP, however declined to name the SWP assemblyman that he was referring to. SWP has two assemblymen, namely George Lagong (Pelagus) and Wong Judat (Meluan).

Chong said when he was approached by the SWP assemblyman, he told the latter that he could not be a member of two political parties at the same time and therefore he had to quit SWP if he really wanted to join DAP.

“I also advised the assemblyman that before he quits SWP, he has to talk to Larry (Sng) first, so that there will not be any misunderstanding between DAP and SWP on this matter.”

Chong said the statement made by Sng clearly showed that SWP wanted to make this issue as an excuse to go back to BN, as the latter might have seen the squabbles within the BN component parties had opened a window of opportunity for a new party to be part of BN.

“If they want to join BN, that is their choice and decision but don’t come out with such a lousy excuse. This is only a very lame excuse given
to pave the way for SWP to submit their application to join BN.

“From the statement made by Larry, any person who is experienced in politics will know that this is a prelude to SWP applying to re-enter BN.”

Chong hoped the SWP supreme council would make a stand – whether to be Pakatan friendly, independent or join BN.

He made it clear that SWP had never formally joined Pakatan Rakyat, stating that SWP only had informal meetings with the coalition but there
was no formal letter to express their intention to join Pakatan.

“I can quite confidently foresee that such application (to join BN) will be going to the chief minister (Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem) soon. The reason being that he (Adenan) is the new chief minister and no longer under the previous chief minister.

“There are now possibilities in BN that a new party will be making application (to join BN).”