Chong teaming up with arch rival Yong?
(Daily Express) Kota Kinabalu: Speculation is rife that Liberal Democratic party Advisor Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat may join the Sabah Progressive Party led by his former arch rival Datuk Yong Teck Lee.
This follows their being seen at several events lately, the latest having lunch together at the Winner Hotel, Tuesday, that is linked to the Yong family business.
When asked to confirm the suspicions, Chong laughed it off, saying:
"I don't denyÉ but are we being marked, even having lunch together? I am no longer a public figure.
"To be honest, this is not the first time we had lunch together. I was also with him at the Buddhist FoGuangShan function at the Kian Kok School Hall last Sunday," he said, when contacted, Wednesday.
Chong described their meetings as interesting and meaningful and did not hide the fact that the discussions were mostly political.
"We discussed things that really mattered to the people of Sabah, including the Mazu statue issue in Kudat," he said. Both he and Yong were Chief Ministers under the rotation system introduced during former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir's administration.
However, Chong would not confirm or deny that he may join Yong's party.
"Oh, we will wait and see," he said after a pause.
On whether Yong invited him to join his political struggle, Chong replied:
"No comment."
Chong's glaring absence at his Tanjung Kapur LDP annual meeting over the weekend also lent credence to the suspicion of him crossing over to the opposition SAPP.
It was learnt that Chong's sister, Datin Naomi, has also resigned as LDP Wanita head.
Meanwhile, Yong in a statement, expressed regret over the action of a group of people in Shah Alam who used a severed cow's head to protest against the construction of a Hindu temple there recently.
The action has resulted in public outrage among both Hindus and Muslims in the country.
Given that Sabahans are especially known for their ethnic, religious and cultural tolerance and harmony all these years, Yong asserted that they should continue to zealously uphold and safeguard noble virtues.
Yong said Sabahans must continue to uphold religious harmony in the State, and to strictly refrain from any action that could stoke religious animosity.
He was speaking as the main organising chairman at the "Hungry Ghost Festival" held at the Nan Tian Kung Temple in Inanam, Sunday.
Guest of honour, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Edward Khoo, in his speech, called on promoters of Taoism in the State to strive beyond the mere forms of Taoit practice to vigorously promote its core values and spirit.
He cited for example, Taoists could always extend their charitable acts performed during the Hungry Ghost Festival to assist the needy and the underprivileged, during normal days.
He also reckoned that the core value and message of such festival whether it was celebrated in Taoist or Buddhist style is to inculcate and remind the faithful of the noble Chinese tradition of filial piety and compassion for all living beings.
Khoo also commended the Nan Tien Kung Temple for its relentless effort in preserving and promoting the Taoist practice of filial-piety and compassion through organising the Hungry Ghost Festival, for the past two decades.
The event also raised more than RM82,018 through the auctioning of 28 auspicious items.
Also present were, Assistant Local Government and Housing Minister, Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah, Likas State assemblyman, Datuk Liew Teck Chan, Jeffrey Wong, Chairman of Nan Tien Kung Temple, its 1st Vice Chairman, Chang Kon Sin and Tam Fu, the organising chairman.
