Storm brewing in SUPP

6

Bumiputera members threaten mass resignation over party’s intention to appoint another deputy president

KUCHING: The approval of a recent amendment of Sarawak United People’s Party’s (SUPP) constitution to allow for the appointment of another deputy president by Registrar of Society (ROS) early this month could trigger a mass resignation of its Bumiputera members.

The proposal to appoint an additional deputy president post to the one being held by Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem was pushed through by the party despite strong objection from its Bumiputera members, especially those from the Bidayuh community.

An insider told The Borneo Post here yesterday that the appointment of another deputy president was an insult to Riot and an indication that SUPP wanted a Chinese deputy president on standby to take over the party’s leadership if the president’s post were to fall vacant.

“Obviously the party leaders who are majority Chinese do not want Riot to have control over the Chinese community. That’s why they want to have a Chinese deputy president to take care of their own community which is very racist in nature.

“So since they all want to make SUPP a pure Chinese party and not multiracial as they have been claiming then all the Bumiputera members might as well all quit the party,” the Bumiputera party insider fumed.

With the amendment approved the party is expected to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting to elect another deputy president soon.

The party insider warned if that were to happen, there would be an exodus of Bumiputera members including Riot from the party.

He added that Riot was appointed deputy president because of the crisis SUPP was going through when the majority of the party’s elected representatives resigned to set up United People’s Party (UPP).

“Datuk Seri Richard (Riot) was made deputy president at the time was also all because of circumstances. He was the only MP from the party, so to save their skin the leaders put him as the number two in the party.

“Even then the party never listened to his views just because he is a non-Chinese.”

The party insider pointed out Riot’s appointment was merely a move to save the party and that there was no sincerity among the party leaders to empower him with any authority.

SUPP once had the second largest number of elected representatives after Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) in the state BN.

Following heavy defeats in the polls and internal dispute that led to the formation of UPP, the party now has only two state legislative assembly members – Datuk Francis Hardin Hollis (Simanggang) and Datuk Lee Kim Shin (Senadin).