Voon Shiak Ni
KUCHING: PKR yesterday clarified that the proposer Narawi Palayan Miniandi for the party’s Batu Kitang candidate was not a bankrupt.
The party’s Batu Kitang candidate Voon Shiak Ni’s campaign manager Simon Siah said prior to nominatiom day on April 24 at 10.45pm, he had personally done a bankruptcy search on Narawi as well as the candidate herself and her seconder.
“During the nomination of our PKR candidate in N.13 Batu Kitang yesterday, there was no problem.
“The nomination process went smoothly and not once was any of our candidate, proposer or seconder from our party in N.13 Batu Kitang queried by the returning officer.
“The atmosphere in the nomination centre was peaceful and with not much drama other than the delay, for which we were not told the reason,” Siah said in a press conference here yesterday.
He was responding to state DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s statement yesterday claiming that Voon would have been disqualified after her proposer was found to be a bankrupt.
Siah said Chong did not consult him before making the statement. He only knew about the accusation on Narawi through reports in online news portals and a messaging application.
“We urge Chong Chieng Jen to check his facts before making an accusation that has caused much damage to the reputation of our proposer who is also our grassroot PKR member. This is a defamation to Mr Narawi and he reserves the right to take legal action if necessary.”
Furthermore, Siah said since the returning officer had accepted the nomination of the party’s candidate Voon Shiak Ni, this was a non-issue, adding that they deeply regret the accusation by Chong.
“Since we are entering into the second day of the election campaigning period, we hope we can call the practice a healthy and mature politics.
“Let the N13 Batu Kitang community decide who will be their representative in the State Assembly to champion their cause. We will continue to put community issues first rather than practise emotionally vengeful politics.”
Meanwhile, Narawi declined to comment when asked on the motive behind Chong making such an accusation. He had yet to decide on whether to take legal action against Chong.
During the press conference, Voon launched her election manifesto for Batu Kitang which focused on six issues concerning the state assembly belonging to the people, local councils election, lighting up Batu Kitang, better traffic management, flood and natural disaster mitigation strategy and native customary rights land issued under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code.
Voon also pledged to battle neighbourhood crime, advocate rights of women and children as well as education equality, besides fighting for greater Sarawak autonomy and abolishing Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Also present at the press conference were PKR’s Petaling Jaya Selatan MP Hee Loy Sian, PKR vice-president and Seri Andalas assemblyman Dr Xavier Jayakumar, Kuala Sepetang assemblywoman Chua Yee Ling and state PKR vice-secretary Lynette Tan.