Sarawak DAP believes that the Chinese community will not be fooled by Wong Soon Koh’s statement that he will look after and fight for their rights and interests, now that he has joined Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak.

 

This is because he had failed in this when he was in the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP).

 

Last Thursday Wong, who is a minister for local government and community development, quit SUPP together with three other assemblypersons namely Jerip Susil (Bengoh), Ranum Mina (Opar) and Johnichal Rayong (Engkilili).

 

In Teras he has been tasked not only to look after the interests of the Chinese community, but also to recruit them as members.

 

“Nobody will believe him, not even a three-year old kid,” said Sarawak DAP Chief Chong Chieng Jen ( left ) when asked to comment on Wong’s statement.

 

“He couldn’t fight effectively for the Chinese community when he was in SUPP with a full team of ministers, assistant ministers, state assemblypersons and members of Parliament. What confidence people can have on him when he is alone in Teras?

 

“He still has the stereotyped mentality that a Chinese minister must fight for the Chinese’s rights, an Iban minister must fight for Ibans, and a Malay minister for the Malays,” he said.

Chong pointed out that Malaysian politics should progress to fighting for the rights of all Malaysians, and Sarawakians fighting for the rights of Sarawakians, regardless of race, language and religion.

 

Asked what he thought of the split in BN, Chong, who is the MP for Bandar Kuching and state assemblyperson for Kota Sentosa, said that it would benefit the opposition.

 

“Any split in the enemy’s camp is good for the other side,” he said.

 

Poison pen letter

 

Meanwhile, several hundred copies of a poison-pen letter attacking Wong was distributed in major towns in Sarawak. Its thrust is that Teras, a Dayak-based party, does not welcome Wong and the Chinese.

 

The letter titled ‘Warning to all Chinese SUPP members’ said Teras does not welcome any Chinese from SUPP, that it is a Dayak-based party and meant for Dayaks only.

 

“The Dayaks never trusted Chinese politicians such as James Wong (former President of Sarawak National Party), Sng Chee Hua (former Deputy President of Parti Rakyat Sarawak), Larry Sng (President of Workers Party), Tiong King Sing (Deputy President of SPDP ( left )) and Wong Soon Koh,” it said.

 

Accusing Wong of being a "selfish politician without any principle and an opportunist", the seven-paragraph letter added that Wong could never be the president of the party.

 

“He needs Teras because he wants to retain his ministerial post. If Teras is to admit the Chinese from SUPP, the Chinese will control the party within a decade and Dayak leaders will be sidelined,” said the letter.

 

Asked to comment on this letter, Wong said: “Will people believe what it says? I don’t think so. Let the people judge,” he said, when confronted by reporters.

 

“I will not be affected by the letter. It will not affect my future in Teras. I know what I am doing and the role I have to play in it,” he emphasised.