Kong urges MPP to end double standards in enforcement

KUCHING (Feb 12): Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) must stop practising double standards to ensure enforcement is carried out fairly and consistently, said Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak assistant publicity secretary Michael Kong.

Kong, who is also special assistant to Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen, said it made no sense for MPP to claim impartiality when DAP’s festive stickers were removed, while Sarawak United Peoples’ Party’s (SUPP) festive materials and illegal moneylending advertisements remained posted in public places.

“DAP’s festive stickers are no different from the festive materials distributed by MPP themselves or Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap, which are pasted in the Mile 7 Market.

“If MPP wishes to classify all materials bearing any logo as ‘political’, the same standard must apply equally and consistently, including to materials distributed by SUPP and MPP. The law cannot be interpreted one way for DAP and another way for SUPP or even MPP themselves,” he said in a statement.

Kong was responding to MPP chairman Tan Kai’s statement that council‑owned buildings, including public markets, are neutral community spaces and not meant for political materials.

Tan also refuted allegations of selective enforcement, saying enforcement actions carried out by the council involved removing stickers bearing political party logos as well as advertisements from illegal moneylenders.

According to Kong, political materials refer to contents designed to influence public support toward an individual, party or policy.

He said it was “ironic and hypocritical” of MPP to accuse him of politicising the matter during the festive season.

He claimed traders had said there were insufficient festive decorations at the market and therefore, the DAP wanted to bring some festive atmosphere to the premises.

“What should have been a simple act of spreading festive cheer has now been turned into a political controversy because of overzealous and inconsistent enforcement by MPP,” he lamented.

He said a site visit confirmed that SUPP couplets, calendars and materials were still displayed at the premises, adding that illegal moneylending advertisements were also sighted.

“These are objective facts that any members of the public can verify for themselves. What MPP has claimed is simply not consistent with what is on the ground,” he added.

Pointing out that public markets are shared community spaces, Kong said they belong to the people and not to SUPP.

He stressed that impartiality cannot mean swiftly removing items associated with DAP while turning a blind eye to others.

It was particularly troubling, he said, that action was taken only after complaints were made by a SUPP leader, adding that this sequence of events raised serious concerns about political interference.

“If MPP truly believes in impartiality, then it must demonstrate it through actions,” he said.

He reiterated his call for MPP to stop acting in response to political pressure and to cease any form of selective enforcement targeting DAP.

Kong said MPP’s duty is to serve the public fairly and impartially, not to function as a political vessel for any party or political leader.