SIBU: The United People’s Party (UPP) believes that its new Bukit Assek branch chairman Kapitan Ting Check Ming could be the ‘dark horse’ to claim the constituency for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the next state election.
Party chairman Local Government and Community Development Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh saw Ting as being committed to the people.
“He has been active in Bukit Assek and is well accepted (by constituents). I hope he would receive full support from our party members,” he spoke at the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of UPP Bukit Assek here on Friday.
Wong, who is also Bawang Assan assemblyman, said state BN secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi had indicated that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem would choose winnable candidates for the next state election as means to settle issues affecting some constituencies.
Wong said UPP had stayed close with BN, adding that he had been invited with those from other state BN component parties, to meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who would visit Kuching this June 4.
He said UPP had, on various occasions, been invited to attend BN functions.
“This shows we are working as part of Sarawak BN. Our party will work hard to ensure victory for the coalition in the next election.”
Meanwhile in his speech, Ting thanked party members for supporting him as the new UPP Bukit Assek chairman.
On the recommendation for him to be the Bukit Assek candidate in the next state election, Ting said he would work with party members and the people as part of his political commitment.
He noted that Bukit Assek was sitting on a sinking peat soil — a problematic situation that had been hitting many house owners across the constituency for some time.
“The constituents have voiced their concern. If we work together in the government, there’s nothing that we cannot achieve,” he said, expressing his confidence in Wong’s leadership.
“Sibu belongs not only to the people now, but also future generations.”