PENAMPANG: MCA Penampang divisional chief Datuk Paul Kong Sing Chu has expressed regrets over the unfounded accusations that MCA had lost four Kapitan posts in Penampang recently.
Their selfish and unsubstantiated accusation only serve to prove that some people do not understand the proper functioning of the system in which Kapitans are appointed and replaced by the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, he said.
Kong, who was met after witnessing the four newly appointed Kapitans from Penampang report for duty to District Officer William Sampil yesterday, said that by demanding explanation and reasons from the relevant authorities as to why they were replaced as Kapitans is not only unnecessary and impolite but have made them become a laughing stock and brought the highly-respected Chinese community leader post into disrepute and shame.
“For those who query the power of the Ministry of Local Government and Housing to appoint and replace Kapitans, they are advised to seek proper advice from the relevant authorities to prevent them from being wrongly misled,” he said.
Last month, three of the four Kapitans; Chong Chiew Kiong (Kepayan Rumah Murah), Yong Ah Loi (Nosoob) and Kwong Leong Ping (Lido) held a press conference to highlight their plight and claimed that their appointment was endorsed by MCA which had represented the Kapayan constituency prior to the 13th General Election when it lost the seat to DAP.
According to Chong, they each received a letter from the Local Government and Housing Ministry informing them that their services would expire by May 31.
“We feel sad because our services are no longer required and it is worse because the termination was done in such an abrupt manner with no reasons given as to why it is so,” he said and urged the ministry concerned to explain why their services were terminated.
He said they felt that it was necessary because they do not want the community in Kapayan to misunderstand why their services were terminated.
Chong had said that they would be forwarding a copy of the termination letter to the Chief Minister, the Penampang BN chairman, Penampang district chief and also the Sabah MCA Liaison chief for further action.
He said they have no qualms if their services were no longer required or if they had voluntarily quit from their position.
“But not being terminated without being given any explanation. We don’t want the people to have the perception that we were sacked for doing something wrong,” he said.