Hiew says some DAP colleagues 'playing games'

KOTA KINABALU - Sabah DAP's Luyang assemblyman Hiew King Cheu is prepared to face disciplinary action for supporting PKR's Datuk Lajim Ukin as state opposition leader instead of DAP's choice, Datuk Wilfred Bumburing.

"There was no black and white order to support Bumburing.

I followed my conscience and supported Lajim as he held the majority support from among the 12 opposition with PKR having seven assemblymen," Hiew said. Hiew said he replied to a show cause letter by party's disciplinary board last week for allegedly going against the party's choice of candidate.

Hiew explained that Bumburing, who had stood on a PKR ticket, was not a member of PKR.

Hiew said the DAP, with four assemblymen, could not change the outcome for Lajim to lead the opposition in the state assembly even with the support of Sabah Star chairman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, the Bingkor Assemblyman.

However, he said, when he signed the letter supporting Lajim as opposition leader, there was no directive as to who the DAP should support.

He said it was only during the sitting that he was told that he should support Bumburing, the Tamparuli assemblyman.

"For me this is a small matter, I don't know why some people here are playing these small games," he said of moves by certain local DAP leaders to frustrate him.

The complaint was sent up by four of his Sabah DAP colleagues, including a few of his party's elected representatives.