SIBU: Julau member of parliament Larry Sng Wei Shien has defended the recent visit by PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to the constituency, which had been criticised as it comes on the eve of the party’s crucial final elections in Sarawak.
Sng, who is contesting the Julau division chief post, said prior to Dr Wan Azizah, many other PKR leaders had conducted working visits to the constituency. These, he said, included Rural and Regional Development Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin, who is also PKR vice-president candidate; and Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Rashid Hasnon.
Sng noted that the visits by these people did not become an issue.
“We have to understand that her (Dr Wan Azizah’s) visit was done in her capacity as the deputy prime minister, in line with the Federal government’s commitment to develop the rural and interior areas of Sarawak.
“My presence, in turn, was as the member of parliament for the area. Not everything is related to politics. We have to prioritise serving the people,” he told NSTP.
Sng was replying to a statement made by PKR central leadership committee member Latheefa Koya, who had questioned the timing of Dr Wan Azizah’s visit to Julau.
Latheefa said the visit was poorly-timed given that it comes on the eve of the party’s final voting process in Sarawak. She also noted that Julau is a hot seat following the controversy enveloping the division over its membership numbers, and that it was the subject of a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation.
The Julau division became the centre of attention when its membership numbers supposedly rose from 603 to 13,000 on June 27, all in the span of one day. A report on the development was subsequently lodged with MACC.
Sng had recently also expressed unease over the voting venue for Julau. He said the venue, the Kampung Sebatu Baru community hall in Rumah Ego, Nanga Entabai, was too remote and had limited internet coverage, which could affect the e-voting system.
However, checks by NSTP showed that PKR’s election committee, on its website, had listed three new venues for the Julau polling, which are Pakan community hall, Julau Sports Complex and Ama Unan longhouse community hall near Engkamup.
