DISQUALIFICATION OF PUJUT REP – REACTIONS
KUCHING: It is considered prudent to take legal action against Democratic Action Party’s Dr Ting Tiong Choon after the Federal Court disqualified him as Pujut assemblyman due to his dual citizenship issue.
Santubong MP Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the legal action was necessary to recover allowances, perks, and other monetary benefits that Dr Ting had received as a state assemblyman.
“The State Legislative Assembly (DUN) is vindicated for having disqualified Dr Ting. At the same time, the Federal Court has established the law on the question of disqualification of becoming a candidate or member of the legislature.
“Obviously, the disqualification happened the moment he became a citizen of Australia. Perhaps, the same principle applies to members of Parliament as well,” he told New Sarawak Tribune.
He wondered why Ting was chosen as candidate despite being an Australian (assuming that fact was known).
“Or did Dr Ting Tiong Choon hide the fact that he was a citizen of Australia. If he did, it reflects badly on his integrity as an individual,” he said.
Wan Junaidi said Article 24 of the Federal Constitution (FC) gives the federal government the power to cancel the citizenship of any person who has acquired the citizenship or claimed or exercised the right of another country.
“Pursuant to this Article, the government also won’t grant citizenship to any Malaysian who had renounced his or her citizenship.
He said based on this, there is a strong legal standing against any person who has renounced his or her citizenship whether through direct renouncement or indirect deprivation.
“It all boils down to loyalty to the country. The person who has renounced his/her citizenship under Article 23 or deprived of citizenship under Article 24 is of questionable loyalty.
“The basic tenet of any country is the need for every citizen to be loyal to it and not trade that loyalty for other gains or advantages,” he said.
He also said that since the Federal Court’s verdict was delivered within two years before the end of the term of the state legislature, therefore, there is no need for a by-election for Pujut.
