Daily News Express
Lim questions Yong’s stand
Sunday 06 January 2008
Kota Kinabalu: Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang has accused Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Yong Teck Lee of leading the attack on former Chief Minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat to oppose the Mazu project in Kudat.
He said Yong – also a former Chief Minister – and Chong should be standing united to hold the middle ground to uphold the constitutional right of Sabahans and Malaysians on the freedom of religion by continuing with the construction of the 32.9 metres (108-feet Mazu) statue.
“It is disgraceful and tragic that instead of the two former Sabah Chief Ministers standing on an united platform working for the completion of the world’s tallest Mazu statue, Yong is leading an attack on Chong to oppose the project,” Lim said in a Press statement released in Parliament Saturday.
Lim, who is DAP Member of Parliament for Ipoh Timur, quoted several reports pertaining to the Mazu project by the two former Chief Ministers in the Daily Express.
He said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had during his official visit to Sabah last weeked expressed the Government’s hope that Chong could settle the Mazu statue dispute amicably without going to court.
“Yesterday (Friday – Jan 4), Daily Express reported an attack on Chong by Yong, with the latter accusing the former of not being prudent as ‘to aggravate the situation and raise the political tension by making harsh and hostile statements,” Lim said.
Yong had in the report called on Chong to “accept in good faith” the statement by Najib to settle the matter out of court. He was commenting of Chong’s statement on Jan 1, which in response to Najib, stated that the Deputy Prime Minister was fully aware that he had exhausted all means, and that he had no choice but to institute legal proceeding.
“Is Yong with the moderates or the extremists in Sabah and Malaysia on the Kudat Mazu statue project,” Lim asked.