Sng: DPM was in Julau on official business

PKR POLLS | Julau MP Larry Sng has denied allegations that Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's visit to his constituency was "inappropriate".

Speaking to The Borneo Post, Sng said critics should be proud that Wan Azizah was helping to develop the rural parts of Sarawak and not politicise the issue.

"(Wan Azizah) was in Julau on official duties. So what is the issue? (Central leadership council member) Latheefa (Koya) should understand that the deputy prime minister was woking to develop rural Sarawak which was left behind by the BN government.

"Not everything is about politics. Serving the people comes first," he said.

He was responding to Latheefa's statement today, in which the lawyer said it was "inappropriate" for Wan Azizah to visit Julau in her official capacity while chaperoned by Sng.

Sng, who joined PKR on May 11, is vying for the Julau PKR division leadership and a seat on the party's central leadership council.

Latheefa had also criticised Wan Azizah for announcing that the federal government would allocate RM100,000 to build a road to a vilage in Julau.

Sng said that the RM100,000 came from Putrajaya's Economic Planning Unit and will benefit 200 residents. He said he had accompanied Wan Azizah throughout her visit because he was the "host".

He said there was nothing wrong with Wan Azizah visiting his constituency because two other ministers - Azmin Ali and Zuraida Kamaruddin - had done the same in recent days.

Sng said he was happy that Azmin was paying an official visit to Sarawak and sarcastically hoped that the PKR deputy president would do more than campaign "for his own political survival" and help the state.

"Please pay more attention to Sarawakian needs and aspirations," he said.

On Latheefa's other criticisms, Sng said: "I never met her before. But she (Latheefa) seems obsessed with me. Someone should tell her I am married".

Yesterday, Wan Azizah received a briefing on Julau's development and the Malaysia Pepper Board - which Sng chairs - at the Julau district office. She then visited the Rumah Rengayan Anak Ngumbang at Nanga Ruyak before attending a dinner at RH Hotel in Sibu.

According to an invitation for the dinner event sighted by Malaysiakini, PKR division leaders and candidates were told to mobilised "at least 10 to 20 key members" from their respective areas to attend the event. - Mkini