Yii (second left) and others at the meet-the-people session.
MIRI: Sarawak United People’s Party Pujut branch chairman Adam Yii is confident SUPP has a better chance than other Barisan Nasional (BN) component or BN friendly parties to win in the Pujut state by-election on July 4.
Although Yii did not mention any party, it was obvious that he was referring to United People’s Party (UPP) as he told reporters during a meet-the-people session yesterday, “The other party cannot compare with SUPP, in terms of membership and organisation. In fact, they had tried once, in the last state election and they failed.”
Yii was nominated by SUPP to stand in Pujut in the last state election but former chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem picked Hii King Chiong of UPP instead.
Hii lost to DAP’s Dr Ting Tiong Choon who was disqualified by the State Legislative Assembly at the last sitting which paved the way for the by-election.
“We are preparing ourselves in many ways. So, we are confident and based on our optimism on the reality on the ground, that I cannot see why it (Pujut seat) is not given back to us.”
The meet-the-people session was to show the people SUPP’s serious intention to take back Pujut seat for BN, he added.
Asked whether the proposed candidates suggested by SUPP to chief minister are up to the mark and popular, Yii said it should not be viewed that way.
“Take Dr Ting Tiong Choon as example. When he first came out, no one knew who he was. It is after the state election that people started to learn about him.
“Thus, it is up to the candidate’s ability to perform and prove that they are worth the vote. Not every candidate who comes out is popular. In the end, no matter who is chosen as BN candidate, it is up to their own performance and most importantly, the people’s confidence and votes,” he said.
However, Yii said the by-election might be deferred if DAP succeeded in filing the court case to defer the by-election.
“Many things can happen from now until the nomination day (June 20). We are preparing for any possibility, and will work all we could if the by-election proceeds.”