Wong: Motion against Dr Ting unpleasant but unavoidable
KUCHING: Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh says he was duty bound to move the motion to disqualify Pujut assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) yesterday.
Wong said that Dr Ting’s dual citizenship and the declaration of his bankruptcy in Australia must be brought up in the DUN as it is a breach of the constitution for him to be elected a state assemblyman.
Assistant Minister of Transportation Datuk Dr Jerip Susil who seconded the motion concurred with Wong on the ground to disqualify Dr Ting.
“We felt duty bound to bring the a matter up in the august House. It was an unpleasant duty which we have to do.
“Al l the documents which I produced during the state assembly meeting are valid. These documents are all found on official websites of Australia. They were from different Australia authorities,” Wong said at a press conference held at his office in Bangunan Baitulmakmur here yesterday.
He pointed out that possession of dual citizenship is a breach of Article 17( 1)( g) of the State Constitution and as such Dr Ting’s situation must be brought up at the DUN sitting.
Wong pointed out that this was not the fi rst time the citizenship of Dr Ting became an issue.
It was fi rst brought to Election Court by BN direct candidate Dato Hii King Chiong after May 7 state election.
“The legal proceedings filed against Dr Ting in the Election Court after the state election did not reach the stage where substantive matter was being examined.”
“I can tell you the verdict was ruled in his (Dr Ting) favour based on technical ground.”
“The substantive issues or matter which was about his dual citizenship status was never brought up for examination. That was why I brought up the case in the state assembly.”
Dr Ting won with a majority of 1,759 votes after garnering 8,899 votes against Hii’s 7,140 votes, PAS candidate Jofri Jaraiee’s 513 and Independent candidate Fong Pau Teck’s 375 votes in May 7 state election.
After the state election, Hii filed a petition to the Election Court to declare the results null and void and that the candidate with the second highest number of votes to be the winner of the seat.
On Oct 10, the Election Court threw out the petition on technical grounds of failure in compliance with the regulations on submission of election petition.