KUCHING: SUPP Kuching chairperson Datuk Lily Yong was returned unopposed for the fourth term during the branch’s 25th triennial general meeting (TGM) yesterday which saw 50 per cent new office bearers in its overall line-up.
Its Wanita wing saw 70 per cent new faces, while the Youth wing 48 per cent. The new Wanita chief is Tnay Li Ping, but Bong Lian Huan still helmed the Youth section.
SA’ATI!: Yong (front) leading the new branch committee line-up, dubbed ‘Team A1’, in cheering the party slogan right after announcing the new office bearers yesterday.
In the main body, those who were returned unopposed were deputy chairman Fam Sin Khak; vice chairmen of Bong Sin Kong, Yeo Bak Hwa, Kho Nguan Poh and Wee Kok Tiong; secretary Alex Wong; assistant secretary David Toh; treasurer Richard Lee and organising secretary Liew Sze Lin.
The new faces are assistant secretaries Goh Leng Yeu and Voong Nam Jin; assistant treasurer Mary Wong; assistant organising secretary Lau Sie Tung; publicity and information secretary Peter Pau; assistant publicity and information secretary Melvin Bong and person in-charge of welfare Yu Cho Heng.
The majority of the 15 committee members are new faces. Yong, who looked delighted with the results as it boded well with calls for young blood to come forward to rejuvenate the ailing party, said her new team was “a good group and very dynamic”.
“In this group, everybody works together in a stress free environment, and everybody is looking forward to the transformation of SUPP,” the former Padungan assemblywoman told reporters after the election at SUPP Kuching office at Petanak.
Dubbing her new committee as ‘Team A1’, Yong enthused that the Kuching branch was “the boldest” among all branches statewide for introducing the most number of youths in their line-up.
“In fact, Kuching branch has recorded the most number of youth members.
With over 10,000 members, we would be able to see strong new leaders stepping forward to play leading roles and bring the party to new heights.
“A mixture of old and new is the most important for any organisation.
As long as we have capable youths and women leaders, we will definitely promote them,” she assured.
When asked what prompted her to seek re-election, Yong replied that she would continue to lead as long as she was still wanted by the branch and party members.
“If the branch does not want me anymore, I will go,” she said, and stressed the importance of grooming new leaders to foster the party’s transformation.
Also held during the TGM yesterday were elections for new committee members of SUPP Kuching’s sub-branches — Market, Deshon, Bako and Satok.