SUPP undecided over ‘defeated’ seats

KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) is undecided as to whether to retain or drop its candidates who were defeated in their constituency during the 2006 state election.

SUPP lost eight – Englikili, Pending, Padungan, Batu Lintang, Kota Sentosa, Bukit Assek, Meradong and Kidurong – out of the 19 seats it contested in the 2006 state polls.

But Engkilili came back to the party after Johnical Rayong, who won the seat on a Sarawak Nasional Party (SNAP) ticket, declared his independence and became Barisan Nasional (BN)-friendly.

Rayong’s loyalty to Chief Minister Taib Mahmud paid off after four years and in October 2010 he was accepted into the BN fold after SUPP was apparently “told” to accept his application to join the party.

SUPP president George Chan’s “decision” to accept Rayong, however, came under attack from within the party’s rank and file.

SUPP secretary-general Sim Kheng Hui said yesterday that an eight-member special committee has been formed to deliberate and finalise the candidates for the seven seats.

Apart from himself the committee would also comprise Chan, deputy president Law Hieng Ding, Wong Soon Koh and Francis Harden (deputy secretary- general), Peter Chin, treasurer David Teng and Alfred Yap (information and publicity chief).

Speaking to newsmen yesterday Sim said: “I can yes, the party has decided to retain all its incumbents except for the seven disputed areas (seat which were lost in the 2006 elections).

“A Special Committee has been formed to finalise the candidates for the defeated seats.”

He said the Special Committee is expected to conclude its decision and namelist of the seven candidates by mid-next month.

Sim also released the names of of the incumbents who will be defending their seats in the soon to be held 10th state elections.

The incumbents are Ranum Mina (Opar), Dr Jerip Susil (Bengoh), Wong Soon Koh (Bawang Assan), Andy Chia (Pujut), Lee Kim Shin (Senadin), George Chan (Piasau), David Teng (Repok), Francis Harden (Simanggang), Vincent Goh (Pelawan) Soon Choon Teck (Dudong) and Tan Joo Phoi (Batu Kawah).

SUPP which is struggling to regain its past glory as the political torchbearer of the Sarawak Chinese community is now riding on Taib’s back as he goes round pleading for the community’s support.

Taib needs the Chinese to back him in the polls this time round as he faces an onslaught of allegations of inexplainable wealth abroad and domestic politicial and corporate abuses which threaten his 30-year stay as Sarawak’s chief minister.