Wong: Nothing political, just an official visit

by Churchill Edward, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on February 2, 2012, Thursday

HOW IS EVERYTHING?: Wong (fourth left) greets staff at the registration

desk prior to distributing the BR1M aid.

KUCHING: SUPP Sibu branch chairman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh made it clear that his presence at the party headquarters here yesterday was merely to inspect the distribution of the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M).

He told the reporters present that there were absolutely no political undertones to the visit.

“I am here today (yesterday) in my capacity as Second Finance Minister. I have been authorised by the State Cabinet to go around and inspect the distribution of the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (or BR1M) to the people.

“My visit here is not political and not symbolic of anything.”

Wong rubbished claims that he would never want to set foot at the party headquarters until his tiff with recently-elected party president Datuk Seri Peter Chin, who is also Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, was resolved.

Prior to his visit, Wong was at the Civic Centre distributing BR1M cash vouchers to the successful applicants. Households earning less than RM3,000 in monthly income are entitled to get RM500 aid.

Wong, who is also Bawang Assan assemblyman, and six other elected representatives are said to be distancing themselves from party central ever since the triennial delegates’ conference (TDC), which was held here from Dec 9-11 last year, due to alleged irregularities in some branch elections.

The Registrar of Societies (ROS) had sent down officers from the peninsula to probe the complaints filed by some party members, but they have yet to announce their findings.

The six elected representatives in Wong’s camp are Lanang MP Datuk Tiong Thai King and assemblymen Datuk Francis Harden Hollis (Simanggang), Datuk Lee Kim Shin (Senadin), Dr Jerip Susil (Bengoh), Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa (Engkilili) and Ranum Mina (Opar).