Salahuddin and Chin watching the welcoming lion dance at SUPP headquarters during the party’s open house.
Taib greets members of the public at the SUPP open house upon his arrival.
KUCHING: It was the ‘business’ of open house as usual as state leaders converged on the headquarters of Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) in Jalan Ong Kee Hui on the eve of Chinese New Year on Thursday.
Despite the swirling turmoil, members were in joyous mood to welcome the state leaders with Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and wife Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib first to arrive around 10am, followed by a stream of ministers to signify perhaps that the clout of the party is intact.
Head of State Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin and wife Toh Puan Norkiah arrived around 11pm and were welcomed by embattled party president Tan Sri Peter Chin Fah Kui, deputy president Datuk Seri Richard Riot and other party top leaders, together with members of the public.
Meanwhile, SUPP Youth chief Tan Kai when met by reporters said the crowd on the day itself easily reached more than 4,000 despite the internal bickering involving the party.
“We were targeting a mere 2, 500 supporters as we only received less than 3,000 visitors last year. However, it was very heartwarming to see a bigger crowd this year as most who came gave their fullest support to the party.
“It was very overwhelming as our caterer had to refill the food for the public today,” he said.
Tan Kai added that it was his fervent New Year wish that the party will not be deregistered and stressed that the big crowd during the party open house itself shows how the party still had a strong base among its supporters.
Among dignitaries present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Rohani Karim, former deputy chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan and wife Datuk Lorna Ulun, Youth Development Assistant Minister Datuk Karim Rahman Hamzah and State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Ghani.
Chin (third left) presenting Salahuddin with a souvenir as others look on during the TYT’s his visit to SUPP’s Chinese New Year open house on Thursday.
Taib and Ragad together with Chin (on Ragad’s left) and other state leaders in a photocall at the event.