Wong (right) and Lo watching a medical staff attending to a blood donor.
KUCHING: UPP president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh says he is very open to the calls made by Chinese community leaders for SUPP and UPP to reconcile.
He also said UPP was taking the calls seriously.
“As I have said, whether you like it or not, SUPP and UPP are basically Chinese community- based parties although we are multi-racial.
“So we hope for greater Chinese unity, we hope for greater Chinese representation in the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.
“If we can do it, we also are strengthening our party within BN for the benefits of all communities,” he told reporters at the blood donation campaign organised by UPP Community Service Board (South) Committee at Crown Square here yesterday.
Wong, who is Second Minister for Finance said if both parties could do it, the Bumiputera leaders and members in their party were also not going to be sidelined.
Their interest, he said, would be safeguarded and strengthened in the process.
However, Wong said it was still too early to comment on UPP’s next course of action.
Asked on how unity in UPP and SUPP be achieved, he said: “Well, we leave it open. It’s too early to comment”.
On whether there is any possibility of reconciliation, he replied, “I think in politics there is always a possibility. At the moment we leave it like that.”
The Federation of Chinese Associations, Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Divisions has called on UPP to seriously consider returning to SUPP for the sake of unity.
Its president Datuk Richard Wee said SUPP should also likewise seriously consider accepting UPP to strengthen Chinese representation in the state government.
“It is our fervent hope that they can come together and be united to better represent our Chinese community in our government in Sarawak.
“The split of Chinese representation between SUPP and UPP has caused much distress and mistrust within our community and the end result is that our community has suffered and languished,” he said at the Federation of Chinese Associations, Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Divisions, Sarawak 2017 Chinese New Year cum 38th Anniversary Celebration dinner which was officiated at by Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg recently.
Wee opined that both parties must show their sincerity and willingness to achieve this greater unity for the sake of the Chinese community.
“It is our hope that with the political acumen and wisdom of the leadership of both parties, they would bury their differences and focus on the greater good for the Chinese community under the same banner. We sincerely hope that you (UPP and SUPP) will listen to the voices and hear the calls of the Chinese community,” he was quoted as saying.
When asked if he thought UPP was in limbo because it was part of BN government but not a BN member, Wong only said UPP was part of BN.
“I think the chief minister knows what to do. We leave it to the process.”
Asked what kind of process they go through and how long it will take place, he replied: “There will be a process, and I hope it will be very soon.”
Wong also assured that he was in good terms with SUPP president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian saying that they were friends.
Also present at the campaign was UPP advisor Dr Chou Chi Ming, UPP secretary general George Lo and chairman of UPP community service board (South) committee Yap Min Su.