The appointment of former Pelagus state assemblyperson Larry Sng as an adviser on youth affairs to the state government is a big smack on the face of young state assemblypersons from the BN.

"Sng is a good guy and he did very well previously as the assistant minister in charge of youth development," Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud said last week, adding that Sng would start working in two weeks' time.

NONE However, DAP's Kota Sentosa state assemblyperson Chong Chieng Jen ( right ) said, "The appointment calls into question the capabilities of the young BN state assemblypersons.

"The question is why Taib picked Sng, and not the young BN state assemblypersons, is beyond me."

Taib confirmed that Sng, a former assistant minister in charge of youth development, would be appointed as adviser of youth affairs due to "his good performance" while he was in government.

Sng has been without a party after he was sacked by Parti Rakyat Sarawak in 2009 for bringing the party into disrepute, and was dropped by the BN in the recent state election.

Commenting on Sng's appointment, Chong, who is also the MP for Bandar Kuching, said: "Some years ago when I was speaking on the alienation of industrial lots in Demak Laut Industrial Estate to crony companies, Sng refuted my claims.

"I then asked him to supply me a list of successful companies alienated the lots, and he agreed.

"Up to the dissolution of the state assembly on March 21 this year, he never supplied me with the list of the companies."

'Some sort of message to Masing?'

Chong also said Sng's appointment put assistant minister of youth and sports Lee Kim Shin in an awkward position.

"What will Lee do with Sng is charge of youth affairs?" Chong asked. "Is Taib saying that Lee is incompetent to take care of the youth development?"

larry sng Sng's (right) appointment was also a big slap on PRS president James Masing's face, he said, adding, "Is Taib sending some sort of message to Masing? Is he questioning the PRS decision on the sacking of Sng from the party?"

Meanwhile, Senator Idris Buang said Sng's appointment was to ensure that the Chinese community was well represented in the state government.

"This is a very wise move by our chief minister to ensure that the Chinese community is well represented," Idris said.

Masing, when asked to comment on Sng's appointment, said: "He is no longer a PRS member and I have nothing more to say about him. We sacked him for reasons that are public knowledge."