DUN revokes Dr Ting’s membership
Evidence of dual citizenship, bankruptcy leads to disqualification of Pujut assemblyman
As a result of his voluntary acts, member for Pujut has ceased to be member of Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak due to the breaches of Article 17(1)(g) of the Constitution Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Minister of International Trade and E-Commerce
THE State Legislative Assembly ( DUN) yesterday resolved to unseat Dr Ting Tiong Choon (DAPPujut) following an overwhelming 70 votes from Barisan Nasional ( BN) assemblymen in favour of a ministerial motion tabled by Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh who sought to disqualify Dr Ting as an elected representative.
Only 10 DUN members, from DAP and PKR, voted against the motion.
Wong who is the Minister of International Trade and ECommerce moved the motion under Standing Order 23(1)( a). The motion was read together with Standing Order 32( 2), Standing Order 40(10) and Article 17(1)(g) of the State Constitution.
“Article 17(1)(g) of the State of Sarawak Constitution states that a person is disqualified from being elected as a member of Dewan Undangan Negeri ( DUN) if he has voluntarily acquired citizenship of or exercised rights of citizenship in or has made declaration of allegiance to any country outside the Federation of Malaysia.
“By way of Statutory Declaration dated April 22, 2016, honourable member for Pujut declared that he has not lost the qualification to be elected as ADUN in breach of the Constitution.” Wong read out in the DUN Chamber.
He revealed that Dr Ting acquired the Australian citizenship on Jan 20, 2010 thereby declaring his allegiance to Australia and also exercised his rights as a citizen by registering as a voter with the Australian Electoral Commission.
Wong added further ground for Dr Ting’s disqualification by disclosing that Dr Ting was declared bankrupt twice in Australia.
The DAP man was said to have been declared bankrupt on June 29 and Sept 11, both in 2012.
Wong then described Dr Ting as unqualified, unfit and untrustworthy individual to be nominated and elected to represent the people of Sarawak.
“As a result of his voluntary acts, member for Pujut has ceased to be member of Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak due to the breaches of Article 17(1)(g) of the Constitution.
“Therefore, it is moved that this House hereby resolves that member for Pujut is disqualified under Article 17( 1) ( g) of the State of Sarawak Constitution to be a member and has ceased to be member of the Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak forthwith.”
This ministerial motion was seconded by Assistant Minister of Transportation Datuk Dr Jerip Susil and debated by Dr Ting and Chong Chieng Jen ( DAPKota Sentosa) prior to Wong’s winding-up speech and being put to a vote.
DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar made the ruling that Dr Ting was disqualified and ceased to be an elected representative after the vote- count.
“I hereby declare that the ministerial motion in the name of Minister of International Trade and E- Commerce Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh is approved.
“The honourable member for Pujut is hereby disqualified under Article 17( 1)( g) of the State of Sarawak Constitution as a member of the House and ceased to be member of the House forthwith,” ruled Asfia.
In his defence earlier, Dr Ting said the alleged allegiance and so- called evidence in the forms of letters and documents presented by Wong to the august House did not come from the Australian government but from the Internet.
He dismissed the charge of bankruptcy by asking how he could be declared insolvent twice within a period of three months.
“Has any member of this House heard of bankruptcy twice in three months? How do you do it? It’s just useless document to prove that I was bankrupt twice. It’s purely a l legat ion and the documents did not come from member for Bawang Assan ( Wong). If I were bankrupt, how was I going to enter and leave Australia freely?”
Dr Ting then requested the minister to show evidence of him pledging allegiance to Australia and exercising his voting right in Australia.
He said he had renounced his Australian citizenship on April 14, 2016 but the document printed by Wong to prove his allegiance to Australia was dated July 10, 2016.
“That is three months after my renouncement of Australian citizenship,” he said, adding that the evidence Wong presented was nothing and would not stand in court.
Dr Ting explained a bit that he was left with no choice but to stay in Australia back then because his wife is a foreigner.
DAP state chairman Chong Chien Jen who is Kota Sentosa assemblyman who rose to Dr Ting’s defence, said the Election Court had made a ruling on the election petition fi led by BN Pujut direct candidate Dato Hii King Chiong after the last state election in favour of Dr Ting.
A MINUTE of silence was observed during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting yesterday for two former state leaders who have passed away.
DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar extended condolences to the family of former Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Wong Soon Kai, who passed away on March 22.
He also extended condolences to the family of former Kapit member of Parliament Temenggong Datuk James Jimbun, who passed away on April 18.
“Tan Sri Wong Soon Kai was a former deputy chief minister, a state cabinet minister, and Bukit Assek assemblyman, while Temenggong Datuk James was Kapit MP. Let us all rise to observe a minute of silence,” announced Asfia.
Prior to this, Asfia ruled that an hour would be allocated for the question and answer session, followed by debate on the Head of State’s opening speech, daily from yesterday until next Wednesday. There will be no DUN sitting today and tomorrow.