Wilfred Yap
KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Youth secretary-general Wilfred Yap has slammed those behind what he calls a campaign to smear his reputation.
Yap, who has been announced as SUPP’s choice to stand in the Stampin parliamentary constituency, said his detractors were very unethical and ungentlemanly.
“It is indeed very unprofessional to hold this sort of campaign to smear my reputation.
“Instead of hitting me from the back, those who oppose me to be the candidate should be gentlemanly enough to hit me with issues and service track records,” he told The Borneo Post when contacted yesterday.
Yap was responding to efforts by certain quarters to sully his reputation.
He said the campaign was orchestrated by the opposition, who found him to be a threat as he has been very outspoken in championing issues dear to the people and helping those in need.
“The opposition are finding me a handful because I’m very vocal on a lot of issues and this has made me a tough candidate for them to beat. They know that I mean what I say and I say what I mean.
“Besides that, my views on issues that are dear to the people especially on meritocracy vis-a-vis social justice, Islamic moral laws on non-Muslims, solving and reducing corruption, assisting the public on welfare have caused the opposition to be bankrupt on issues and ideas for the upcoming general election,” Yap said.
He said as politicians, the opposition should be ethical and not resort to dirty tactics to gain votes.
“Politics should be about a candidate’s track record, willingness to serve the people, raising issues dear to the people and suggesting solutions to the people’s problems,” he said.
Yap also called on those who opposed his candidacy to state why he is not suitable.
“Is it because I am not qualified enough? Am I a gambler, womaniser or corrupted?” he asked.
Yap said the smear campaign would not affect his spirit and he would continue to work hard on the ground to serve the people.
Stampin has been held for five terms by Deputy Works Minister Datuk Yong Khoon Seng, who has on many occasions expressed his decision to retire when his current term ends.