Chong is playing dumb on date issue, says Karim

January 30, 2016

KUCHING: Kota Sentosa assemblyman Ching Chieng Jen has irked a PBB supreme council member for playing dumb on the Election Commission’s freedom to decide nomination and polling dates.

Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who is also the Asajaya assemblyman, said Chong was trying to conjure up a negative perception that the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem was trying to dictate the dates.

"How petty and ridiculous YB Chong can be. 

"The Chief Minister is just making a proposal on the dates of Nomination and Polling for the State Election to be on the 18th and 30th April," he said in his Whatsapp message, adding: "Surely YB Chong knows" what is a "proposal".

Adenan had made known the proposed dates – April 18 for nomination and April 30 as polling day – when launching an election seminar for Satok constituency at the Damai Beach Resort on Friday night.

Karim said even if the commission decided to agree with the proposal, "it does not mean that the Chief Minister controls the Election Commission" as alleged by Chong, who is also the State DAP Chairman.

Chong was reported as saying the chief minister had chosen April as the date for the polls in order to coincide with his Bersih 4 trial.

The assemblyman is charged for taking part in a street rally on August 28 last year on his way to join a Bersih 4 gathering at a sports field in Kuching.

If convicted, he is liable to a maximum fine of RM10,000, which will also disqualify him from contesting in any election for five years.

The assistant minister opined instead of uttering "a malicious and unfair allegation" that "should not have been made at all", the Kota Sentosa assemblyman "should have been thankful to CM Adenan for revealing the proposed date(s) as it will erase all speculations" and make it easier for both Barisan Nasional and oppositions to prepare for the state election.

"Surely YB Chong knows that this has never been done before, and I'm sure what CM Adenan (has done) is to give opportunities to all parties a reasonable time to get themselves prepared for the Election instead of groping in the dark. 

"YB Chong should be thankful to CM Adenan for his "fairness" to all," he added.

The PBB supreme council member said Chong was engaging in gutter politics when he decided to ignore the benefits of the revelation to the oppositions.

Therefore, he added, throwing a brickbat for giving something which was beneficial to the oppositions was uncalled for.

"He will condemn, criticise and make silly allegations for anything does by BN whether it's reasonable or not," said Karim of the Kota Sentosa assemblyman. -@ybkarimsays