Engkilili assemblyman heeds his constituents’ calls to return to his former party
Rayong about to cut the ribbon to officially declare open Darasatha Beauty Centre and Saloon at Bandar Riyal in Kota Samarahan. Nana is on the left. (File photo)
KUCHING: Former United People’s Party (UPP) Youth leader, Engkilili assemblyman Dr Johnichal Rayong yesterday announced that he would rejoin the party with immediate effect.
On Thursday, Opar assemblyman Ranum Mina – a former supreme council member of the party – also announced his return to the party.
Both decisions were made upon the requests of their grassroots supporters and leaders for them to return the fold after being without a party since their victory in the last state election.
Rayong said he never had any quarrel with UPP and since UPP Engkilili had asked him to return, he would do so without further ado.
“I am chosen by my voters and supporters as well as UPP members in Engkilili constituency, since it is their wish that I should rejoin UPP – I have no choice but to do so,” Rayong told The Borneo Post.
Rayong, Ranum together with Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh and Datuk Tiong Thai King resigned from UPP to stand as direct Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates in the May 7 state election. After winning in the election, Rayong, Ranum and Dr Jerip – who won the Mambong seat, decided to apply to join Party Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), while Soon Koh and Tiong opted to go back to UPP.
“I have been loyal to BN all along. I decided to apply for PBB because I wanted to continue to be part of BN. However, my application to join PBB is still pending. And now with my supporters in Engkilili calling me to rejoin UPP, I have to do as they wish. I have to take (into) consideration the political stability of Sarawak as well as Engkilili constituency.
“I am always a BN man, so are my supporters in Engkilili. And though UPP has all this while been BN supporters, the party has been kept outside BN doors. I appeal to BN top leaders to consider UPP’s application to be a member of BN favourably,” he said.
Meanwhile, UPP Engkilili secretary Councillor Nyambong Maweng said the branch convened a meeting yesterday to seek a solution to the absence of branch leadership, since former chairman Rayong had resigned to stand as direct BN candidate.
“After the election, he did not come back to join UPP but instead, he applied to join PBB. As a result, there has been a void in branch leadership since he resigned.
“Our meeting this morning started at 9am and ended at 11.30 am. We have unanimously agreed that YB Johnichal should rejoin UPP and continue to lead us,” said Nyambong.
He added that all the executive committee members of UPP Women, UPP Youth as well as the main Engklili branch had turned up at the meeting.
“This is the first time that when we called for a meeting – all 82 of the exco members turned up. This shows how important we view this issue.
“After two-and-half-hours of deliberation, we have agreed that YB Johnical should return to UPP with immediate effect. We have already notified him of our decision verbally and he has agreed to meet our request,” said Nyambong.
With the return of Johnical and Ranum, it is anticipated that Dr Jerip would follow suit soon.
When asked recently if he would return to UPP, Dr Jerip said he would make an statement on the matter today.
However, UPP Mambong leader Councillor Wadel Boyod had also openly called on Dr Jerip to return to lead the branch.