Wong (seated second left) with other UPP leaders (seated from left) Dr Jerip, secretary-general George Lo, Tiong as well as its Youth chief Dr Johnichal Rayong Ngipa (standing right) and vice president Datuk Ranum Mina (standing left) during lunch after a meeting in Kuching yesterday.
KUCHING: United People’s Party (UPP) president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh has asked Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian to refrain from using rude remarks against media practitioners and also to control his emotion.
It was reported that Dr Sim, the Minister of Housing and Local Government, made a less than satisfactory remark against a local newspaper reporter after the reporter repeatedly asked him if SUPP and UPP should now merge after Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had told them to do so.
Dr Sim was said to have made the remarks after the launch of Ride Hailing App GRAB stand at Icom Square here on Tuesday.
He was quoted to have told reporters that those who did not understand the meaning of ‘returning to SUPP’ to tell him and he would refer them to psychiatrists or the 7th Mile mental hospital for treatment.
It was claimed that, to emphasise that he meant what he said, he told all the reporters to report what he said.
To this, Wong who is Second Finance Minister and Minister of International Trade and E-Commerce, yesterday said: “We have read YB Dr Sim’s explanation in today’s newspaper (a local Chinese newspaper) that he was asking the reporter to see the psychiatrist at 7th Mile mental hospital and he was not referring to UPP.
“We accept his explanation but we would urge Dr Sim to refrain from using such intemperate language in future which can lead to serious misunderstanding.”
However, the reporter took the remarks as referring to UPP and this was what was reported in the United Daily News which was read throughout Sarawak.
“That is why we had to respond to the newspaper’s report. However we accept Dr Sim’s clarification in today’s newspaper,” Wong added.
In Sibu on Wednesday, UPP issued a press statement from Wong, his deputy president Datuk Dr Jeril Susil and senior vice-president Datuk Tiong Thai King over the alleged rude remarks by Dr Sim.
The UPP leaders said such rude remarks, be it against fellow politicians or members of the media, could derail efforts to seek unity for the sake of the Chinese community.
“We take strong exception to such remarks which are clearly not conducive to the process of reconciliation which UPP and SUPP are engaged in currently at the behest of the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister.
“Both sides ought to be focused on unity and reconciliation, and not try to belittle the other party. There are obviously certain parties who are against any reconciliation and they would no doubt rejoice in the statements made by Dr Sim.
“If there is any sincerity on the part of SUPP leaders to reconcile, we call on them to stop making such statements in the media,” the statement said.