2 Factions Tussle For Control Of Sarawak Party

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Lina Soo claims she was ousted in a coup but Aspirasi secretary-general Andygie Gines said the vote was above board.PETALING JAYA: Two factions are fighting over control for the Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party (Aspirasi), with one camp claiming that a coup had taken place.
Lina Soo, who insisted she remains the president of the Sarawak-based opposition party, said a coup occurred after a rival faction declared a new president, treasurer-general, and secretary-general, Borneo Post reported.
Soo also said she was booted out of the meeting after questioning its legitimacy. She has since lodged a police report.
However, Aspirasi secretary-general Andygie Gines dismissed the claims. He said Soo’s membership was terminated after delegates adopted a motion to have it revoked, the Dayak Daily reported.
He also explained that a motion had been proposed for Soo to be removed from the meeting after she kept speaking without recognition from the chairman, George Young Si Ricord Jr.
“She was disruptive, causing nuisance and chaos among the delegates,” Gines was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, Gines was quoted by the Borneo Post as saying that prior to the AGM, a 14-day notice had been given to the previous secretary-general for a vote of no confidence against Soo as party president and for a vote to take place at the AGM, held yesterday.
He insisted that the AGM was held in accordance with the party’s constitution and Registrar of Societies regulations.
Gines also challenged Soo to provide evidence that there were some 100 non-party members present, “as she could only establish the identity of fewer than 20 members.” He said Soo’s accusation of non-members being present was not true.
Aspirasi did not take part in the parliamentary general election in November, deciding at the 11th hour to sit out the polls in protest against it being held during the monsoon season, and for fear of splitting the votes.
The party previously announced that it would be contesting the Mas Gading, Puncak Borneo, Serian, Bandar Kuching and Stampin seats. - FMT

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