DAP willing to provide legal services to community leaders to seek judicial review: Chong

KUCHING: Sarawak DAP is willing to provide legal services to assist any community leader who wants to seek judicial review with regard to the directive from the state government stopping community leaders from attending federal government functions and events, said Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen (pix).
"If any of those community leaders are willing to come forward to take up action against the state government for the irresponsible and insulting action, Sarawak DAP will provide the legal service free of charge," said the Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs.
Chong added that it was an unconstitutional action by the state government to give such directive which he said denied the freedom and movement of community leaders.
"This is their basic right so don't treat them like dirt and school kids," said Chong at a press conference here today.
After Sarawak PKR chairman Baru Bian had criticised the state government for giving such directive to the community leaders, it was Chong's turn today to do the likewise.
Chong said the directive from the state hovernment was ridiculous and insulting to the community leaders and called on the state government to show respect to the 'ketua kaum' (tribal head) and 'ketua masyarakat' (community leader), who act as bridges between the rakyat and the government agencies.
Hence, Ching advised Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to retract such directive for the benefit of the people and the state.
The directive was sent out by Sarawak State Secretary Tan Sri Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani through a memo dated Oct 11, 2018. — Bernama