Chong Chieng Jen. – File photo
KUCHING: Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak would let Dr Ting Tiong Choon to continue serving the constituents in Pujut despite the Federal Court’s decision to disqualify him as Pujut assemblyman.
Its chairman Chong Chieng Jen said that Dr Ting has proven himself as a very hardworking and dedicated elected representative since elected in the 2016 state election.
“As Dr Ting has been elected by the Pujut voters for this term, notwithstanding the fact that he is now disqualified, he shall continue to serve the Pujut constituents till the end of the term.
“His service centre shall continue to operate as DAP’s service centre and he shall continue to serve till end of the term (of the DUN),” said Chong in a statement yesterday.
Dr. Ting was disqualified as a member of DUN after a 7-2 decision from a nine-member Federal Court bench upheld the August house’s decision to remove him on grounds of having dual Malaysian and Australian citizenship back in 2017.
Chong also said DAP Sarawak was saddened and disappointed by the the Federal Court decision on Dr Ting’s case.
He said the consoling fact was that the panel of nine judges delivered three written judgments, out of which two written judgments by the Chief Justice and Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak decided in favour of Dr Ting.
“However, the remaining one written judgment was written by one judge and agreed upon by the other six judges. It is sad and disappointing that in such an important case, six federal court judges chose not to write their separate opinion but decided to tag along the judgement of one of their colleagues.
“We DAP Sarawak feel sad about the majority decision of the Federal Court which literally leaves it to the Sarawak State Assembly (DUN) to do whatever it wants in the Assembly, an unfettered and unlimited power and this basically destroys the fundamental doctrine of separation of power,” he said.
According to Chong again, the DUN has taken away the rightfully elected representative of the people of Pujut thereby depriving the people of Pujut their voices in the state assembly.
He also reiterated that Dr Ting’s case was one where the DUN has abused its power through a Ministerial Motion by disqualifying an elected representative with its brute majority.
“Though the majority judgment of Federal Court has decided not to interfere with the decision of the State Assembly, that does not give justification to the State Assembly’s resolution to disqualify Dr Ting,” he said.