Alan Ling Sie Kiong
MIRI: Sarawak DAP secretary Senator Alan Ling Sie Kiong claimed that the circular issued by the State Secretary on behalf of the GPS-led state government showed one undeniable fact – that GPS’s ruling power is shaken and is worried of its fall in the coming state polls.
Ling said the way he looked at it, is GPS under Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg lacked confidence in retaining power; therefore they had to resort to restraining community leaders appointed by them from attending federal government’s functions.
“If they think they can win the hearts of people by doing so, let them be. They have to pay the price for ‘suppressing’ the leaders,” Alan, who is currently outside Malaysia, said when contacted yesterday.
Alan is on his way to Astana, the capital of Khazastan to attend the Youth Conference of United Nations.
According to Alan, this act amounts to ‘a cat closing its eyes when stealing cream’ – which s simply self-deceiving and trying to prevent the community leaders from involvement in any federal functions.
When asked to comment on the circular which went viral on social media and WhatsApp groups, he reckoned GPS leaders might be out of date and not aware that information cannot be blocked anymore, with everyone having a smartphone and social media widely used nowadays.
“They are naive to think that physical ban will make people stay loyal to them and vote blindly to support them,” he said.
He said the act reflected the childish attitude of GPS and its utter disrespect for human rights and freedom.
Thus, Alan, who is also Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sarawak secretary, called on all community leaders to stay firm and have a conscience.
“They (community leaders) must uphold their human dignity to tell the GPS state government that it is their right to move freely, as guaranteed by the highest law of the country i.e. the Federal Constitution.
“If circumstances arise, I do not mind taking up the case for judicial review of the directive issued, as it blatantly breaches the rights enshrined under the law,” he asserted.
On the other hand, Alan called upon the GPS state government to revoke the directive with immediate effect and to compete with PH in terms of policies maturely, not resorting to such desperate attempt “which will only have adverse impact on them”.