Guan Eng tells Sarawak DAP to get ready for Pujut by-election

Sarawak DAP has been told to prepare for Pujut by-election after Dr Ting Tiong Choon was disqualified as a member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly yesterday.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said he was shocked by the decision of the Sarawak State Assembly to disqualify Dr Ting as Pujut State Assemblyman and regarded it as politically motivated.

The Penang chief minister said the Election Court had rejected the election petition for Pujut state seat filed by Barisan Nasional (BN) who claimed that Dr Ting had Australian citizenship after registering as a voter in Australia.

"We will challenge this matter in court. At the same time, I have directed Sarawak DAP to prepare for a by-election," he told reporters after launching a waste separation programme at Punca, Kadun Air Putih, today.

In October last year, Election Court Judge P. Ravinthran rejected a petition brought by BN candidate Datuk Hii King Chiong and ordered the petitioner to pay RM80,000 costs to the respondent, Dr Ting.

Guan Eng said the Election Court had decided that it was a legitimate election but the Sarawak State Assembly decided to ignore the decision by tabling a motion calling for the removal of Dr Ting.

"The Penang State Assembly can also call for a motion to disqualify a member but we do not do so because of democracy.

"We respect the choice of the people, if there is a technical problem, let it be decided in court," he added.

Dr Ting was disqualified after the motion to disqualify his membership was tabled by Sarawak Minister of International Trade and E-Commerce, Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly yesterday. --Bernama