KUCHING, Sept 20 — Santubong MP Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri has urged Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen to focus on serving his own constituents rather than politicising an issue that has already been resolved.
She said the controversy over the use of “Santubong” as a brand name for an alcoholic beverage ended when the company concerned agreed to withdraw the product from shelves.
“The company realised that their actions had hurt the feelings of Santubong constituents, who are predominantly Muslim. That was why they agreed to remove the product. Why then is YB Chong raising an issue that has already been decided?” she said in a statement posted on her Facebook page this morning.
Nancy stressed that as a Member of Parliament, Chong’s role should be to safeguard the interests of his own constituents instead of revisiting matters that were no longer an issue.
She believed that Chong had apparently tried to make himself relevant to Sarawakians by picking up any issue he thinks is in his best political interest.
“My only suggestion to YB Chong is to serve your people well. They need him more than the Santubong people,” she said.
Nancy also thanked Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap for the support and understanding regarding the controversy.
She said that as rightly mentioned by Yap in a statement yesterday, it was only natural for a leader like herself to protect the sanctity of the majority of constituents in Santubong.
“He (Wilfred) rightly pointed out that the brand name is just not appropriate for Santubong, where the population is mainly Muslim. That was the reason why the issue was raised by the constituents,” she added.
Chong, who is also Sarawak DAP chairman, had issued a statement yesterday afternoon by saying he did not see any issue with naming a beer ‘Santubong’, saying it should be viewed as a way to honour the place and promote Sarawak’s identity.
Chong also alleged Sarawak is gradually sliding into Peninsular Malaysia’s “hypersensitive and overzealous” political culture it has long prided itself on avoiding.
Yap later defended Nancy, saying she was voicing genuine concerns of her constituents. — The Borneo Post
