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MY STRUGGLE CONTINUES
Since 1985, I have devoted my life to politics and regard serving the people and the country as my mission and vocation. I have been fortunate to have the support of people from throughout Malaysia in my political struggle. I am especially blessed in the Likas constituency where the voters have returned me election after election. Since 1999, I have also been getting the support of voters in the Gaya Parliamentary constituency.
I am sincerely grateful to all the people (friends and rivals alike) who have made my last 17 years as
wakil rakyat a challenging and enlightening one. I would have liked to continue with my work. But, in football parlance, I have been red-carded for an alleged 'election offence'. The media has relentlessly reported my case and described me as being found guilty of corrupt practice. These words have been misconstrued, or created the impression that I was guilty of corruption
e.g., bribing of voters, or me being bribed, or other offences involving an element of dishonesty.
The fact is, the alleged offence merely concerns a plywood billboard which did not bear the name and address of the publisher. The election court trial did not have evidence that I was personally involved. With no name or person identified in the trial, how the judge concluded that I was responsible was beyond comprehension. And to punish me with a disqualification is grossly unfair and manifestly unjust.
But my struggle continues. I may be out for a few matches, but I am not out of the sport. Unusual circumstances may have caused me to have to shed my role as an elected representative. The positions may be no more, but the work goes on. With the team of colleagues in SAPP serving the people through the years, I can say that little, if any, has changed or will change.
Some of my political opponents tried to trivialize the support the people have for me by alleging that phantom voters, bribery and corrupt practices won me the elections. They went to court. We had a by-election in Likas and you made me win, again. I was disqualified as an MP and State Assemblyman because of an election offence. There was no right of appeal in the courts, I thought I have a citizen's right to petition for a Pardon. But some dark forces made that impossible.
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