KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Bawang Assan chief, Councillor Kevin Lau Kor Jie, has expressed concern over the recent social media controversy involving Pending assemblywoman, Violet Yong.
He urged all public figures to practise responsible communication, particularly when addressing sensitive matters involving public institutions.
Lau said it was unfortunate that Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman, Chong Chieng Jen, appeared to interpret public and professional backlash over Yong’s Facebook remarks as personal attacks.
“While there is no denying that elected representatives are often the first line of contact for the public in moments of need and are compelled to act quickly, it does not give anyone the right to make sweeping judgments,” he stressed in a statement today.
Lau emphasised the importance of using proper channels to communicate and resolve issues with institutions such as hospitals or the Health Ministry, rather than resorting to social media platforms.
“I do not think putting it up on Facebook without proper clarification is the right way to communicate and resolve issues.
“In my personal opinion, it causes more harm than good. In our modern society, it is all the more crucial to be a responsible social media user,” he said.
Lau warned that Yong’s public remarks could unintentionally undermine public trust in medical professionals and instil unnecessary fear among the community.
“It is undeniable that what Yong did could lead to doubts on our medical professionals, causing fear and giving a wrong perception to the public,” he said.
According to him, good intentions must be carried out appropriately to reflect genuine sincerity.
Referring to reports that Yong allegedly responded to a petition by asking, “why so sensitive?”, Lau said he was “highly disturbed” by the remark.
“Perhaps it would be best for her to retract this statement and find the right channel of communication with our medical practitioners to resolve issues,” he added.
