Slap challenge: I accept, says Yong
He also asked Home Minister Zahid Hamidi not to “break his promise” to reward him with RM501 which will be donated to the Tabung Wira Lahad Datu
Queville To, FMT
Former chief minister Yong Teck Lee has accepted the challenge to slap Home Minister Zahid Hamidi.
“I accept his (Zahid’s) challenge and invite him to come visit Lahad Datu and Semporna without being escorted by his crowd of bodyguards and police and army security cordon.
“If Zahid keeps his promise to pay the RM501 upon being slapped, I will donate it to the Tabung Wira Lahad Datu (Lahad Datu Heroes Fund).
“I am confident that Sabahans will contribute more than ten times to the Fund,” said Yong who is also SAPP president.
The Lahad Datu Heroes Fund was set up for the benefit of the families of security personnel who were sacrificed while defending Sabah during the Lahad Datu-Tanduo Sulu intrusion in March 2013.
Zahid had said during his address to Home Ministry staff in Putrajaya yesterday that a “benevolent person” had offered RM500 as a reward to anyone who would slap him.
He said “if the person is brave enough” he should perform the act in person instead of urging others to do it. Zahid also said that he would top-up the amount by RM1.
Yong, who had made the offer in an immediate reaction to the security breach in Sabah last Wednesday, said yesterday that he hoped Zahid will not break his promise.
He said thus far Zahid had not kept his word on other matters.
He cited the pledge Zahid had made to reveal the names of the three opposition leaders who were allegedly behind the Lahad Datu Tanduo intrusion last year.
“Last year on the eve of early polling by security forces and families at the 13th General Elections, Zahid had claimed that the three opposition leaders were involved in the Lahad Datu Tanduo intrusion.
“He said the identities will be revealed after the elections. But to date, he has failed to do so and kept his silence on the matter,” said Yong.
