TAWAU: The nationwide signature campaign to save Sandakan-born Yong Vui Kong, 22, from being executed anytime after August 26 if his clemency plea is rejected by Singapore president Sellapan Ramanathan, has reached Tawau.
Heading the drive, Tawau member of parliament Datuk Chua Soon Bui called on the people for support to give Vui Kong a second chance.
“Many individuals have already come forward to help with getting the signatures, and we are targeting to get 100,000 signatures by August 20 to appeal to the Singapore government for clemency,” she said yesterday.
Chua said Vui Kong should be given a second chance because he was ignorant when he committed the youthful folly at age 18 for drug trafficking.
“He had little education, ignorant of the law, came from a broken family and was doing odd jobs. We are just asking his death penalty sentence to be reduced to that of life imprisonment. He has changed and helped many prisoners and had vowed to use his remaining days to counsel lost souls like he once was,” she said.
Chua said there were many young people in Sabah deprived of jobs and education and they too could be taken advantage of, just like Vui Kong.
“This is beyond politics, race and religion. This is about humanity. Vui Kong is worth more alive as he had realized his folly and can educate and create awareness to others, and will be an ally to the Singapore government in its anti-drug campaign,” she said.
She said many people would be circulating the signature plea and she herself would be going around the market areas to explain to the people and gain support for the drive.
Members of the public can go online to endorse a petition to the Singapore president at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/SaveVK/petition.html.
They can also help the campaign by printing the petition and signature form and collect signatures from families, friends, colleagues and even strangers.
The URLs for downloads are: http://www.box.net/shared/k16t1gf5ss (English version) http://www.box.net/shared/ibce9v8cd (Mandarin version) or
http://www.box.net/shared/daqymy6vtu (Bahasa Malaysia version).
Completed signature forms should be mailed by August 23 to “Save Vui Kong” Campaign, Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, 1, Jalan Maharajalela, 50150 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.