SIBU, Jan 31 2026: Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Tiong King Sing has criticised SUPP allegedly regarding the appointments and swearing in of community leaders and headmen in Dudong and Bawang Assan state constituencies.
Tiong King Sing: Some irresponsible SUPP party leaders manipulating other’s party constituencies selection process for selfish political interests.
He said the appointments were transparently discussed by the Selection Committee, and consensus had already been reached during a meeting.
“However, several candidates were added, removed, or even replaced without authorisation. This is akin to slap in the face of decision-making by consensus.
“If this is how matters are handled, we should just dissolve the Selection Committee and let Dr Sim decide everything on his own,” Tiong, who is also Bintulu MP, said in a statement posted on his Facebook.
He said any appointment of a community leader or tuai rumah must proceed with the consent of the local elected representative.
“Yet SUPP has chosen to bypass PDP’s elected representatives. This is clearly a political disrespect,” Tiong, who is also Dudong State Legislative Member (SLM), said, stressing that bypassing PDP’s elected representatives “violates our cultural and political norms, even humiliates our coalition partnership in GPS.”
He reminded SUPP that the authority to appoint community leaders and tuai rumah belongs to the longhouse communities and grassroots.
“It has never been the political asset of any party and no single party can monopolise or manipulate it. “It is dishonest to say that a single party can decide the appointments on its own.
“It disrespects the people’s will, and will only deepen social division and raise confrontation,” he added.
Tiong, who is also Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, claimed that some individuals, particularly certain Kapitans who were absent during the recent floods, have long lost the trust of the people, adding that these these individuals were those the grassroots demanded to be replaced.
“However, after the selection process had been completed in line with established procedures, the decision was overturned at the last minute in the name of the State Secretary, replacing them with candidates earlier rejected by the grassroots.
He accused irresponsible SUPP party leaders manipulating other’s party constituencies selection process for selfish political interests.
“This act is clearly a political overreach, violating established responsibility and long-standing norms upheld by GPS.
“This act was not done in consensus and we were only informed at the very last moment to attend, leading to the lack of PDP leaders attending the ceremony,” he said, adding that this is nothing less than a deliberate act of humiliation that we cannot tolerate.
Tiong also said there are a lot of such repeated interference in PDP constituencies, but no such “enthusiasm” is seen in PBB or PRS constituencies.
“Is it because PDP is considered "easy to bully"? Or because an election is approaching, prompting this urge to “flex muscles” and show off how “powerful” that SUPP?”
“If the SUPP truly believes that PDP’s participation is unnecessary, including in the upcoming elections, then it should state so openly and clearly, instead of resorting to unilateral behind-the-scene actions,” Tiong said.
No comments:
Post a Comment