UPP yet to confirm news of trio’s application to join PBB

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KUCHING: UPP has expressed its disappointment over news that three of the party’s members Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa and Ranum Mina had applied to join PBB.

Its secretary general George Lo said the party had tried to contact the trio on the matter since news broke out but to no avail.

“The only person I’ve managed to call was Dr Johnical and that’s only a few minutes before this press conference so we did not have much time to discuss further,” he told reporters at the party’s headquarters today.

Nevertheless, Lo said it would not be fair for the party to comment further about the issue at this stage.

He also disclosed that UPP Central Committee had recently rejected the resignation letters submitted by all its seven members who stood as BN candidates.

“With the rejection of their resignation, all seven are back as UPP members and restored to their positions within UPP.

“I can also confirm that this rejection of their resignation was made known to the three gentlemen by me when the decision was made. They knew about it and they also discussed with me the timing of the announcement of the Central Committee’s decision that they were back with UPP,” he said.

The rejection of their resignation would mean that Bawang Assan assemblyman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh has been reinstated as UPP president.

Lo also stressed that Dr Jerip, Rayong, and Ranum knew the extent of the support they received from UPP for their re-election campaign, especially in terms of financial support.

“We would be extremely disappointed if the news is true that they have applied to join another party immediately after they were re-elected with our help,” he said, adding that another press conference will be held once the party had spoken to the trio and ascertained the facts for themselves.