KUCHING: SUPP assistant publicity and information secretary Datuk Dr Soon Choon Teck insists that his name still stands on the candidate list held by the party’s central leadership and eight-member committee.
He said he did not want to interfere in a personal talk between party president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan and Lanang MP and Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King.
The talk is believed to have touched on putting Tiong to contest in Dudong.
In a media release here yesterday, Dr Soon, who is the Dudong incumbent, said his name was not excluded from the party’s campaigner list as an SUPP central working committee (CWC) meeting had endorsed to retain all its incumbents.
“Although a member of the eight-member committee tried to write my name off, other members of the committee advised him not to, so my name remains on the list.”
It was reported that Dr Chan intended to place Tiong in Dudong following an indication from the state BN chairman and Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Tiong had also told the press that he was considering some possibilities but a final call would only come later.
In a statement yesterday, Dr Soon admitted having met Tiong in a hotel in Sibu but added that whatever was discussed during the meeting should stay private and confidential.
He said it was Tiong who proposed to meet and it was also the same person who made the discussion public.
He said he was also disappointed that Tiong disclosed the statements selectively.
“I remember him telling me that he has no intention to contest in Dudong as he is an MP and SMC chairman, and he has to take care of his own business.
“He reasoned that he might not be able to juggle all of these if he had to be an assemblyman,” said Dr Soon.
He added that he did not choose to contest for personal interest but for the interests of all constituents.
If the seat could be retained, Dr Soon said the victory belonged to the whole party as well as the people.
“If I fail to deliver, I will face it with no hard feelings because it is the call of the voters,” he added.