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Friday September 21, 2012

Yong makes a good candidate but we must respect his decision, says Dr Sim

By ZORA CHAN
zora@thestar.com.my


KUCHING: SUPP is more than happy if its former vice-president and Stampin incumbent Datuk Yong Khoon Seng decides to defend the seat in the coming parliamentary elections.

Its secretary-general Dr Sim Kui Hian said the party had always been satisfied and grateful with Yong’s services and hoped that the veteran politician would contest for another term.

“But Yong has insisted to us and in public that he wants to retire and we have to respect his wishes and decisions.

“We’ve talked to Yong in meetings and personally on this. He has a good track record in serving the people and the party has no hesitation to rename him as the candidate but he has declined it,” he told reporters here yesterday. He was asked to comment on Chinese community leader Temenggong Lu Kim Yong’s call to all leaders and associations to plead with Yong to reconsider his decision not to contest in the elections.

Dr Sim said the party leaders would not pressure Yong, who is now serving his fifth term and as Deputy Works Minister, to contest as such action would be unfair to him.

“But if he wants to contest again, we’re more than happy to have him,” he said.

Yong, 71, had spoken about his retirement from politics openly for several years, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family and get involved in charitable organisations.

He said he had no ambitions to be a full minister but looked forward to be a volunteer in Kuching Autistic Association, Children Cancer Society and Kuching Life Care Society.

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