DAP candidacy based on ability, willingness to serve – Chong

KUCHING: The criteria for a state DAP candidate to contest during the coming 14th General Election would be more on his or her ability and willingness to serve the public.

In stating this, state DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen said the party has its own internal process of selecting the right candidates to contest in elections but what is paramount is their diligence and sincere desire to serve the community.

“They will be screened through their normal daily performance and hard work. But so far, we feel that our candidates are alright,” he told a press conference at state DAP headquarters here yesterday.

He was commenting on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s recent statement that all Barisan Nasional ( BN) candidates will be vetted by relevant agencies such as the Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission ( MACC) before they can be officially fielded to stand for the coalition in the upcoming parliamentary election.

Asked if the party would be more conscientious this time around so as to avoid another Pujut controversy, Chong said this case, which involved its assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon, revolved around a “grey area of the law”.

“The candidate ( Dr Ting) has lived up to expectations. He’s hardworking and dedicated and so far until today, I think he has lived up to expectations and served the people very diligently.

“Whether in the past, he has obtained Australian citizenship and after that he renounced it; whether that in law, this will disqualify him as an elected member, that is a matter for the court to decide. It’s a grey area of the law,” he remarked in referring to Dr Ting’s case where he was initially disqualified by the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) for having dual citizenship in Australia and Malaysia before the decision was overruled by the Kuching High Court.

The case is now awaiting delivery of judgement by the Court of Appeal following appeals filed by DUN speaker Datuk Amar Mohammad Asfia Awang Nassar, Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh and DUN against the High Court’s judgement.

Chong emphasised that what mattered most was that after Dr Ting was elected as the elected representative for Pujut constituency, he had been very committed in serving the people.

Meanwhile, when asked whether DAP Sarawak would follow suit PBB’s stand of not fielding state elected representatives to contest in the 14th General Election, Chong, who holds both the Kota Sentosa state seat and Bandar Kuching parliamentary seat, chortled at this before pointing out that it depended on the situation.

“Another consideration for the opposition is that mainly people are reluctant to come to the forefront because it entails a lot of sacrifice even till this day. If you look at the series of prosecution cases, it is in line waiting for us. Most of our (opposition) leaders who hold two positions, there are a few cases hanging over our heads including myself, ( Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary general) Lim Guan Eng, and more.

“With all these political prosecutions, a lot of people are reluctant to join the opposition because it entails more sacrifice than benefits. Hence, sometimes you just have no choice but to hold two positions,” he said.

Also present during the press conference was Chong’s special assistant Dr Kelvin Yii.