SIBU: SUPP here sounded its battle cry yesterday and is ready to give the opposition a run for their money in the ‘hot’ parliamentary seats of Lanang and Sibu this coming general election.
CONGRATULATIONS: Lau (right) presenting a prize to a pre-school pupil of Tadika Yakin Diri while principal Teresa Lau looks on.
Last year’s BN-SUPP by-election candidate councillor Robert Lau Hui Yew believes BN still has a chance in winning the two seats despite the swing of momentum to the opposition.
“Yes, we expect a very tough fight in both Lanang and Sibu parliamentary seats if the results of last state and by-elections are anything to go by. And it is not getting any easier.
“But that will not break our spirit as I believe BN will still have a chance come this general election. We hope the people will continue to give BN a chance,” Lau told reporters after the Yakin Diri Kindergarten’s prize-giving ceremony here.
Lau opined it is a 50/50 chance in recapturing Sibu parliamentary seat, adding that election can be very unpredictable.
He, however, declined to comment on state BN secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi’s comment that BN faced a “daunting task” to ward off Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in urban seats, namely Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Sarikei, Bandar Sibu, Lanang and Miri.
It was reported in the news that SUPP was in grave dangers in these places.
According to the news report, Dr Rundi was in Kuala Lumpur last week with other BN component party leaders to present their reports of readiness for the 13th General Election to Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Meanwhile, Lau admitted the current internal strife in the party is not helping given the general election is just round the corner.
Lau, who previously hinted he was still willing to give it another shot if nominated by the top leadership, suggested that more young leaders be groomed in the party.
“We need younger leaders in SUPP to represent the people and that is only natural…and people need to give them a chance, and not just the party.”
Asked if they will be using social media to engage younger generation of voters, who are more discerning, he said personal touch or interaction is still very relevant in a closely-knit society in Sibu.
“While social media such as Facebook helps to a certain extent, I believe people here are very much family-oriented, and would want youth leaders to be on the ground to touch base with them.
“At the end of the day, they still want to know who you are personally. Conversely, there may not be a personal touch using social media hence, this creates a distance,” he noted.
He observed there is a need to engage the middle class in the age bracket of between 30 and 40, which forms the foundation of the society.
He figured social media may be able to influence them but this group of people would still want to know how leaders can get close and listen to them while at the same time finding solutions to their problems.
Meanwhile, Lau lost to the state DAP chairman Richard Wong Ho Leng by a slim 398 votes last year.
Wong garnered 18,845 votes while Lau polled 18,447 votes. Independent candidate Narawi Haron managed to obtain only 232 votes and lost his deposit in the Sibu by-election.