KUCHING: Chinese community leaders are hoping that Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem will enjoy good health and longevity so that he can lead the state for many years.
This was the hot topic among Chinese community leaders during this Chinese New Year celebration due to the chief minister’s many good policies ever since coming into power nearly a year ago, said Federation of Kuching and Samarahan Divisions Chinese Associations Sarawak vice chairman Richard Wee.
“For this Chinese New Year, whenever the Chinese community leaders met, we discussed Adenan’s new policies.
“We are very happy with what he has done, and our leaders even hoped for his good health and longevity if he were to continue with his new policies, which have won him the hearts of many,” Wee told The Borneo Post here yesterday.
When asked whether the support for Adenan could turn into votes, Wee said it would not be easy, unless both SUPP and UPP unite and their leaders served the people well.
He opined that to win predominantly Chinese seats in the 11th state election, SUPP and UPP leaders must compromise and let UPP president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh to become their leader to ensure a landslide victory, which is possible due to the ‘feel good factor’ following sound policies by Adenan – who will be celebrating his first anniversary as the state’s chief executive this Saturday.
Wee said they should allow Wong to lead the two parties with conditions that Wong recognised the present leadership in SUPP.
“Both parties must be willing to compromise, otherwise it’s going to be difficult for both parties to face the opposition in the coming polls.”
He added that Wong, in return, should step down to give way to new leaders after one term due to his age.
“I am a pragmatic person. I believe there are no permanent enemies. So, if Wong were to be the leader of both SUPP and UPP, he should recognise the current leaders in SUPP, or nobody will want to listen.
Wee added that the current SUPP leadership led by Senator Prof Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian lacked the stature to control the party’s middle leaders.
“I believed the person who could lead SUPP’s stature is Datuk David Teng, but he is not holding any party post, maybe just as an advisor.”
He said the difference between SUPP and DAP leaders was that if they (SUPP) leaders lost in an election, they would not want to serve the people any more, except for Datuk Sebastian Ting.
“The late Sim Kwang Yang contested in many elections and lost, but he finally won, and so too Chong Chieng Jen. On the other hand, many SUPP leaders, after they lost in elections, they are nowhere to be seen.
“Actually, if they truly want to serve the people, they should continue even if they had lost because the people can gauge for themselves whether they are sincere in serving them.”