KOTA KINABALU: The Koperasi Serbaguna Masyarakat Foo Chow Sabah Berhad board of directors self-contradicted on the issue of ‘Foochow Village’ development in Kinarut, said Foochow Association Kota Kinabalu life honorary president Datuk Yii Ching Siew.
Shortly after Yii disclosed the sale of the 50-acre land for RM3 million at a press conference on June 18, the cooperative put up a notice on the cancellation of sale in Chinese newspapers on June 28.
Prior to June 28, the cooperative board of directors had said the deal had been struck and it was too late to do anything about it.
Yii said he had announced his proposal to buy the 50-acre land for RM5 million last month, RM2 million more than what the previous buyer had tendered for.
However, Koperasi Serbaguna Masyarakat Foo Chow Sabah Berhad board of directors chairman Dr Ling Hie Sing said the proposal came too late because the deal had been done, Yii said.
Hence, it was contradictory that the cooperative changed its stance from saying that Yii’s proposal came too late to scrapping the deal with the buyer all within 10 days.
On another matter, Yii said the quorum required one third of the cooperative members to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on September 23 last year for it to be legal.
However, only 161 cooperative members attended the EGM.
“Although that was last year’s issue, I will engage a professional to verify the authenticity of the attendees’ name list.”
He also questioned whether the board had done things according to procedure, as Ling should know that notice for an Annual General Meeting (AGM) should be put up 14 days prior to the meeting.
Yii said Ling put up the notice for the AGM seven days prior to the meeting (last month), and had to call off the meeting at the last minute after being advised by the Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission (SKM) Sabah for not adhering to the regulations.
He added that Ling was considered a prominent figure in Sabah, but the latter frequently warned the cooperative members that he would take legal action against those who stirred up issues.
“I have lived for 70 years, and have not sued any person, nor have I been sued before.
“I have to fight for justice for the cooperative members. If I’m sued, it’ll be like winning the lottery! What are the chances of being sued by a Foochowese that has called for fellowship, harmony and unity?”
Yii said regrettably none of his six children had studied law, and that was why he had never taken legal action against anyone that had gone against him for the past 70 years.
On another note, Yii thanked the Bruneian businessman for his understanding and agreeing in cancelling the deal.