GONG XI FA CAI: Taib welcomed by the ‘God of Fortune’ at the open house.
BAU: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud believes that the presence of the five elements, namely metal, wood, water, fire and earth in the Year of the Water Snake is a good sign for the Chinese community in the state to further consolidate its position.
Speaking at the Lunar New Year open house at Bau Civic Centre here yesterday, he said the Chinese would become stronger provided that the community is more united.
He stressed that a more united Chinese community would ensure the Chinese would benefit from the new developments such as Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).
He cautioned that the internal dispute of SUPP had more or less a negative impact on the unity of Chinese community in the state.
“SUPP is suffering from the internal dispute but this is not the reason why the Chinese should be split. I have talked to many Chinese leaders; a lot of them like to see SUPP to remain strong.
“Chinese are the very active members of industrial and commercial sector. It is therefore important for the Chinese to stay united and work together as partners, otherwise the new developments like SCORE will not benefit them as much as I would like to see.”
SUPP, the state oldest political party, was in internal dispute since end of 2011 following the contest of the presidential post in the triennial delegates’ conference (TDC) between Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin and Local Government and Community Development Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.
Chin was later elected president of SUPP in the TDC, which was held in December 2011, while Wong withdrew from the contest to show his disapproval of the party election. Wong and his teammates, the five state assemblymen of SUPP, refused to acknowledge the new party leadership and claimed that the party election was unfair due to some “irregularities” and ‘wrong-doings”.