‘Lawyer in video was SUPP advisor’
The video exposé by London based Global Witness has turned public focus from Sarawak DAP’s internal strive to SUPP once again.
Joseph Tawie, FMT
KUCHING: Sarawak DAP has taken its nemesis Sarawak United Peoples Party (SUPP) to task over its ‘deafening silence’ regarding the ‘candid’ and ‘explicit’ interview given by SUPP “legal advisor” Alvin Chong in the covertly recorded Global Witness video which has garnered over 695,110 viewers on YouTube.
The video, which was released two weeks ago and excerpts of which was aired over Al Jazeera, has given the state opposition additional leverage.
Embattled SUPP, which is seeking to redeem itself in the upcoming parliamentary elections has in recent months gained better ground as a result of DAP’s own internal strife.
DAP had earlier this month incurred the wrath of the its grassroots when it sacked six of its ‘influencial’ branch officers in Miri and Senadian.
But observers here said the Global Witness video interview with the Kuching-based lawyer Alvin, in which he arrogantly described how deals were inked, funds siphoned out of the country and the extend of Taib’s crony practice, was enough to distract attention from DAP’s issues.
It has long been rumoured that SUPP’s ‘top leadership’ were deeply involved in Taib’s ‘land development’ policies and alleged corrupt dealings.
In fact this was the premise on which the opposition built their strategy during the 2011 state elections which led to DAP and PKR winning an unprecedented 15 seats collectively.
Several top SUPP personalities including its president George Chan, whose daughter was married to Taib’s son Sulaiman – the Kota Samarahan MP – lost their seats. Chan, who had held the Piasau state seat for six terms lost it a 28-year old political greenhorn Ling Sie Kiong.
Speaking to reporters here, Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen said: “The corruption issue raided by Global Witness has serious implications on the whole government administration.
“It is putting Sarawak in a very bad light in the international community, and SUPP being part of the government should make its stand,” said Chong who is tipped to contest in Stampin.
Will SUPP sue Global Witness?
He said that if the allegations are true, it meant that Sarawakians had lost out in the billions of ringgit through malpractice.
