Yong ready to mediate

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Deputy Works Minister willing to take on role of peace maker in SUPP internal crisis but only if invited

Datuk Yong Khoon Seng

KUCHING: Datuk Yong Khoon Seng is willing to be the mediator between SUPP president Datuk Seri Peter Chin and SUPP Sibu branch chairman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh to end disputes within the party.

The Deputy Works Minister who is also the MP for Stampin yesterday said he would only take up the task of peacemaker if someone approached him.

“I won’t volunteer myself. I’ll (be the mediator) if I’m invited to do so,” he told reporters after the flagging-off ceremony of the 200-car Kuching Off-Roaders New Year Meet 2013 convoy at the car park of Kuching South City Council (MBKS) here.

“I really hope both parties could reach a compromise. Although it seems unlikely to happen, I still hope they can sit down for a
face-to-face talk to solve the internal issues,” said Yong, who is the former SUPP vice-president.

Chin the Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister and Wong the Local Government and Community Development Minister got into the dispute when Chin expressed his interest to contest for SUPP’s presidential post in the triennial delegates’ conference (TDC).

Chin was later elected SUPP president in the TDC held in Dec 2011 while Wong withdrew from the contest to show his disapproval of the party election. Wong and his team mates, the five state assemblymen of SUPP, refused to acknowledge the new party leadership and claimed the party election was unfair due to some ‘irregularities’ and ‘wrongdoings’.

On another issue, Yong believed the senator quota of SUPP, which has been left vacant for two years, would be filled after the 13th general election.

He said he was not in the position to recommend any candidate as the decision was in the hands of the party leadership.

On the election, Stampin MP Yong admitted it would be a tough fight for SUPP especially for seats in urban areas.

“I hope voters look at our track record of serving the people before deciding who to support,” he said, adding that he would help in the campaign even though he would not seek to re-election in the polls.