KUCHING: Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak president Lina Soo has refuted Andygie Gines’ claims that a vote of no confidence was passed on her.
The allegation was published in a Chinese newspaper.
Andygie was declared Aspirasi’s secretary general by a faction during Sunday’s annual general meeting in what Soo claimed was a coup.
“This allegation by Gines is malicious, of no merit and unlawful,” she said in a press statement here today (Feb 14).
Soo explained that there was no provision under the party constitution to remove an elected president or supreme council by a vote of no confidence.
“The party constitution is very clear on the rule that the position of the president and any supreme council member can only be vacant upon resignation, death or sacking of the member under Article 7(2) where the member must be served a show cause letter in writing and given time to reply.
“Any other means of removing a party member, such as sacking on the spot, is illegal and unconstitutional,” she said.
Soo said no other president and supreme council members can be formed in opposition to the incumbent supreme council which was elected in 2021, and whose term will only end in 2026, hence any attempt to do so is in gross violation of the rules and constitution of the party.
Soo said that according to party membership records, Gines cannot in any way represent Aspirasi as he is not a fee-paying member, therefore, he has no right to vote or be voted and cannot exercise any privilege to participate in any proceedings in a party meeting.
“Without ever settling the membership entrance fee of RM10 and the annual subscription of RM10, Gines is not entitled to any rights and privileges of a fully paid-up party member as required under Article 5(3).
“He merely holds the status of observer at the annual general meeting which was scheduled to be held on Feb 12 but which could not be legitimised due to lack of quorum, let alone participate in an unconstitutional and illegitimate power grab of Aspirasi,” she added.
Soo also said Gines has no merit and no authority to represent Aspirasi in any way to the media, and this matter has been reported to the Registrar of Societies Malaysia for investigation.
