TING’S DUAL CITIZENSHIP ISSUE
KUCHING: Former Pujut assemblyman, Dr Ting Tiong Choon, has been told to stop justifying his non-disclosure of his dual citizenship in an attempt to get public sympathy.
Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said Dr Ting’s loss of his status as an elected representative was his own doing.
He said as leaders in the ruling government, it was disgraceful to treat the constitutional laws so lightly by trying to find fault with the Federal Court’s decision.
Tiong, who is also Bintulu MP, said Ting should have been prepared for the controversy instead of trying to justify his actions to gain sympathy.
“I met Dr Ting some time ago when rumours about him holding dual Malaysian-Australian citizenship were already swirling about. When we spoke, I remember saying to him to ensure that he is in the clear or it would come back to haunt him one day,” said Tiong in a press statement yesterday.
He said most Sarawak DAP leaders are legal professionals, so they should be well-versed in the laws and constitutional matters.
“Yet, they insisted on challenging our laws and breaking them. They repeatedly provoked the people to hate the Sarawak government. This is abuse of power,” he said.
He said Dr Ting should redeem himself by admitting his errors and relook at his past behaviour. He should be aware of the consequences he would be facing by trying to exploit his position as an elected representative.
“DAP should remember that they once attacked a minister in the Dewan Rakyat for holding a permanent residence (PR) status in another country.
“Tan Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen was forced at that time to renounce her PR status due to DAP’s actions. DAP made a hue and cry of that issue, but to them Dr Ting’s dual citizenship issue seems to be less serious than Yen Yen’s PR status,” he said.
He said Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chief Chong Chieng Jen had also accused Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian holding a PR status as if that was equal to Dr Ting’s hidden dual citizenship.
“Making out Dr Ting to be a victim really puts the DAP’s double standards on display. Citizenship and PR of a foreign country are two separate things. Chong knows this but chooses to use it to create confusion instead of accepting the Federal Court’s decision on Dr Ting’s status with an open heart,” he said.
He said Chong and Dr Ting must realise once and for all, that the DAP is now part of the ruling government. They need to display maturity in understanding and respecting the decision of the apex court in our country under Pakatan Harapan rule.
