Chong (seated, third right) speaking during the press conference. Dr Ting is seated at far right.
KUCHING: DAP Sarawak will file legal action against the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) and Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar for their decision in disqualifying Dr Ting Tiong Choon as Pujut assemblyman.
Its chairman Chong Chieng Jen said the party was of the unanimous view that the motion taken by DUN last Friday “assaulted” the fundamental democratic principles of which the country was founded upon.
“What happened two days ago in the DUN Sitting was the state Barisan Nasional (BN) government trying to play God in the whole episode.
“This is utterly ridiculous in the democratic system and therefore all of us here have come to a unanimous decision to take action against the Assembly and Speaker so as to defend our constitution,” he told a press conference following the party’s state committee meeting at its headquarters here today.
On Friday, the DUN disqualified Dr Ting as Pujut’s elected representative following evidence that he had previously acquired Australian citizenship.
Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh moved the motion under Standing Order 23(1)(a) and cited Article 17(1)(g) of the State of Sarawak Constitution, which stated that a person is disqualified from being elected as a member of DUN if he has voluntarily acquired citizenship of or exercised rights of citizenship in or has made declaration of allegiance to any country outside the Federation of Malaysia.
The DUN resolved to unseat Dr Ting following an overwhelming 70 votes from Barisan Nasional (BN) elected representatives over the opposition’s 10 votes against the motion.
Pursuant to this decision, Chong announced that the state DAP has set up a legal team which will be led by Chong Siew Chiang, who is also DAP Sarawak’s founder.
“The legal team will also include myself, Alan Ling, Wong King Wei, Irene Chang and Violet Yong,” he revealed.
Chong, who is also Kota Sentosa assemblyman, said he will file the legal action within a month’s time.
“This matter is of utmost urgency and I will rope in other volunteers or legal minds along the way if necessary.”