MIRI: Former president of Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Tan Sri Peter Chin Fah Kui revealed that SUPP IT team is investigating a cheque claimed by online portal Sarawak Report as having been issued by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to the party.
Speaking to a press conference yesterday, Chin said he was suspicious of the report and the cheque, and believed its publication at this time was meant to disparage the image of SUPP and affect the votes of BN-SUPP candidates.
“While the IT team of SUPP at its headquarters in Kuching is working on the authenticity of the image in question, as its former president (2012 to 2014), I wish to put a stop to this line of witch-hunting against the current leadership of SUPP’s elected-into-office in September, 2014,” he told a press conference held at SUPP Piasau office yesterday.
Chin who was accompanied by SUPP Pujut chairman Adam Yii did not confirm whether the cheque was fake or genuine, but instead claimed the cheque (blurred in a few spots) dated some time in 2013 was an attempt to cast negative aspersions on the SUPP leadership then, and to mislead voters on current issues important to the people of Sarawak.
He said the party’s funding responsibilities had always been placed squarely on the shoulders of the party president and, of course, during his tenancy in 2013.
“This is another example of coordinated attacks with intentional parties meddling in the Sarawak election and I assure every voter that SUPP has not done anything wrong under the existing laws of our country.
He urged voters everywhere in Sarawak, particularly those voting in constituencies contested by BN-SUPP candidates, not to be swayed by such tactics.
Earlier in March, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that a sum of USD7 million was channelled from the prime minister’s personal account to his brother CIMB chairperson Nazir Razak before 2013 general election and an undisclosed amount was paid out to SUPP and LDP.
Nazir admitted having helped distribute the money to politicians according to the instruction of his brother the prime minister.