Tiong said the former community chief from SUPP recently completed his term and that it was agreed at a meeting that his term would not be extended.
He said this leader was replaced by another candidate from SUPP, and that the party’s representatives had been present at the meeting and agreed with the decision.
However, he claimed that the former chief later had his term extended, which meant that Sibu now has two active community chiefs.
The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) vice-chairman asked whether there had been political interference from top SUPP leaders, with the post given out as a political asset.
“This not only breaks the existing system but also weakens public confidence in fair governance. If a unanimous council decision can be overturned so easily, what is the point of having a council at all?
“For such a sensitive grassroots appointment, why was there no discussion with the relevant parties, and why was I, as Dudong assemblyman, not consulted to explain the public’s view?
“Sim must give the public a clear explanation. Has power been centralised to the point that it can be used repeatedly to bypass all democratic procedures to protect the party’s quota?” he said in a Facebook post.
Tiong also claimed that the move could be perceived as “openly sidelining” PDP, which in turn would tarnish the trust and cooperation among GPS components.
The federal minister warned that manipulating such appointments would create division in GPS, and cause Sarawakians to lose trust in the ruling state coalition.
“Political cooperation must be built on respect, integrity, and transparency. If a party cannot uphold GPS’s spirit of unity, then let the people decide at the ballot box.
“We believe the people can see clearly. Any attempt to go against the public will and bypass due process will not last.”
Tensions have spiked between the two GPS parties in recent years, especially after three assemblymen from the now-dissolved Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) joined PDP, taking with them three traditional SUPP seats.
PSB, led by Wong Soon Koh until its dissolution, was a splinter of SUPP. After joining PDP, Wong was named its senior vice-president.
In June, Tiong ordered all PDP members to pull out of the Sibu Chinese Community Leaders Association after an unnamed politician purportedly interfered in the association’s elections.