Eli Wong agrees to stay as exco, rep

SHAH ALAM: Bukit Lanjan rep Elizabeth Wong has agreed to stay on as state executive councillor and assemblyman.

Wong, who had tendered her resignation after revealing photos of her emerged two months ago, was earlier Wednesday asked to stay on by Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

In a statement later Wednesday, Wong said, "It is with the greatest humility that I accept the Selangor state’s offer to remain in office."

She also thanked the Sultan of Selangor for his guidance.

"I wish to thank mentri besar and the Selangor exco, my staff, my fellow assemblymen, fellow politicians from Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional, PKR leaders, the Women’s wing of PKR and the grassroots, and my legal team for their support and guidance," she added.

When she had tendered her resignation, Khalid had asked her to go on leave pending a decision.

Khalid told a press conference that asking Wong to resume her duties was the right thing to do, even though she had tendered in her resignation

“The state government believes this is an appropriate and fair decision after taking into consideration views from all quarters, public interest and the fact that police investigations have to date failed to reach a conclusion,” he said after chairing the weekly exco meeting.

Khalid was accompanied by almost all of his exco members, including senior exco Teresa Wong and Datuk Dr Hassan Ali, who is the state PAS commissioner, when making the announcement.

The mentri besar also added that Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had been briefed about the exco’s decision to retain Wong.

Khalid also thanked Sultan Sharafuddin for his stand in not interfering in political decisions and entrusting the state government to make a fair and just decision.

Khalid stressed that morality was of utmost importance to the state's Pakatan Rakyat government.

“We will ensure that this principle is strictly adhered to. Should there be any conclusive evidence of wrongdoings, the state government will not hesitate to initiate the necessary action,” he added.

However, said Khalid, the state government was also equally concerned in protecting the rights to privacy and would do its utmost to protect that right.

He reiterated that Wong was a victim and that even though it was an issue of morality, everyone was innocent until proven guilty.

Wong found herself in a quandary after some revealing pictures of her were sent to the media in early February.

She immediately tendered her resignation as exco member and elected representative citing that it was in the best interest of her party PKR.

Wong was granted long leave while the police conducted investigations and the exco debated on her status as exco member and assemblyman.

When asked if all the exco members had agreed unanimously to reject Wong’s resignation or if the decision to retain her was PKR’s, Khalid said what was discussed at the meeting would not be revealed.

He also stressed that it was the state government’s decision not to accept Wong’s resignation.

She went on leave on Feb 15 after some revealing pictures of her were posted on the Internet, and also tendered her resignation as exco member and assemblyman, saying that it was in the best interest of her party PKR and the state’s Pakatan Rakyat ruling coalition.

Other exco members temporarily took over Wong’s tourism, consumer affairs and environment portfolio. Khalid and senior exco Teresa Kok handled tourism, Ean Yong Hian Wah will oversaw consumer affairs while Rodziah Ismail and Dr Xavier Jayakumar handled environment.

Rodziah also stood in for Wong in carrying out the official duties as Bukit Lanjan assemblyman.

The revealing pictures of Wong were sent to selected media outlets by unknown parties.

She lodged a police report and in the course of their investigations, police obtained a warrant of arrest for one Hilmi Malek, a former boyfriend of the assemblyman.

Hilmi, 32, was issued a notice under Section 111 of the Criminal Procedure Code to come forward and record a statement by March 19, but to date, there has been no word from him. He is believed to be residing in a neighbouring country.

Wong said the past two months have been more than an ordeal for her.

“I have been stripped bare publicly -- both figuratively and literally -- by force and against my will. My personal life has been violated and assaulted by none other than criminals.

“Even up to this evening, I continue to receive threats from unknown persons.

“This is not a scandal, as some have suggested, but a clear criminal act. This is no less a form of criminal intimidation, a form of political violence, and one which, if I chose to retreat into silence, would in turn indirectly affect women, especially women politicians,” she added.

Wong said she was “humbled by the encouragement and support shown by the media, my family and friends, non-governmental organisations, the tens of thousands of people who signed the petitions on my behalf and who wrote to me, and especially my constituents who stood by me in these trying times.”

“I also wish to thank the [olice for their professionalism in addressing the issue at hand and I look forward to them apprehending and charging the criminals soonest,” she said.

News by TheStar Online..