SIBU: The seven former SUPP leaders who sought judicial review on the ROS’ decision not to deregister SUPP for the 14 allegations of election irregularities yesterday called on party president Tan Sri Peter Chin and his group to stop making statements on the matter.
The seven were aligned to Dato Sri Wong Sooh Koh’s camp in the party’s internal dispute which led to them resigning to join Teras. They are Datuk Jerip Susil, Dr Johnical Rayong, Ranum Mina, Shiling Banggit, Datuk Tiong Thai King, Suzanne Lee Tze Hua and Pengulu Sia Jii Ming.
In a press statement yesterday, the group led by Dr Jerip said the matter was with the High Court in Kuala Lumpur, and making statements outside it would amount to contempt of court.
“Although the application for the review has come from the seven of us, this is being done with the request of the 14 branches which have been affected by the alleged election irregularities. Chin, being a lawyer, knows the legal proceedings of the case cannot be jeopardised out of the court room.”
The Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed the application of the group on June 18 to challenge the decision of the ROS.
Dr Jerip said his group applied for the review because the matter affected 14 branches in the state, and it was a matter that concerned grassroots numbering thousands of members.
“We could not just sit there and watch when these members come for help.”
Dr Jerip alleged “someone” had thought of sweeping the matter under the carpet, but, grassroots members who claimed they were victimised wanted justice be seen to be done.
Dr Jerip said he was disappointed over statements on the court case being made in the public.
He said this should be stopped because the legal proceedings should not be jeopardised.
Dr Jerip believed there was an attempt all this while among SUPP leaders to push the blame of the party’s wrong doings to them to wash themselves off the matter.
He said they applied for the judicial review because if there was indeed election irregularities, those responsible should not get away.
On whether SUPP could proceed with their planned election in the coming TDC, he said this was a matter left to the court.
Earlier, when the group successfully made the judicial review application on July 18, Dr Jerip, who is also Bengoh assemblyman, said if the ROS had indeed made a wrong decision, he believed the decision could be quashed and the court could order the ROS to deregister SUPP.