Wong (second left) symbolically welcomes Lee into UPP, while Kee Yew (left) and Ting look on.
SIBU: Former SUPP Dudong branch deputy chairman Dato Sri Dr Benny Lee led about 100 supporters to join United People’s Party (UPP) as he sees the party as an ideal platform to continue his political struggles for the people here.
UPP president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh announced yesterday that they have officially accepted Lee and his followers into the party.
Lee, who stood on an Independent ticket in the 2016 state election, said his followers were the 3,288 voters who supported him then.
“About 100 people, many from longhouses, including community leaders are following me to join UPP because they all want to make sure they have a strong team, especially in rural areas to ensure continuous development. SUPP, on the other hand, has many limitations.
“UPP is the right vessel to fulfil the needs of the people,” he said.
He expressed optimism that more of his followers from Dudong would be joining UPP in the coming days.
Lee, an educationist, also did not discount the possibility that many members from SUPP too would cross over to UPP.
“I join UPP without any condition as this is the ideal platform for me to serve the people of Sibu. I am drawn by Rancangan Sibu 1 (RS1) initiated by UPP Community Service Board (Sibu) chairman Dato Andrew Wong Kee Yew. I think this is the way forward.
“I made a firm decision that I wanted to be with a party that provides a plan that charts the development of the town. Interestingly, RS1 carries the slogan ‘Together we work for Sibu’s future’ and that is where I want to be – close to the people.
“I want to be with the people who share the common vision of developing Sibu. For the sake of the five-year plan for Sibu, I have decided to join UPP,” Lee told reporters after a press conference to announce the acceptance of his application to join UPP.
He also dispelled the notion that he was a ‘political frog’ as he had applied to join SUPP previously but his application was not submitted to the party central.
In last year’s state election, Datuk Tiong Thai King helped BN wrest Dudong seat from the opposition, garnering 9,700 votes. DAP’s Yap Hoi Liong obtained 7,554 votes, Lee 3,288 votes, while another Independent candidate Casper Kayong Umping got 228 votes and STAR’s Mary Ting secured 152 votes.
Meanwhile, Wong, who is Minister of International Trade and E-Commerce and Second Finance Minister, described the inclusion of Lee into the party as an added strength to UPP.
“I would say it is an added strength for us as in the last state election, he polled 3,288 votes; he and his followers are a force to be reckoned with, in Dudong area. Polling 3,288 votes is no small achievement.
“He (Lee) sees what we (UPP) are doing is similar to what he is fighting for. We are fighting for the same cause – mainly to help Sibu folk and develop the town for the next five years,” the Bawang Assan assemblyman added.
Asked if there would be any position for Lee in the party, Wong said: “No position yet and we will work together. Subsequently we will see what role he can play in UPP.
“That is why he joins UPP without any condition – he just wants to join to help, to play a role. Later on, we will see what happen.”
Wong said he testified to it that Lee joined UPP without any condition as Lee himself has stated.
“Along the way, I think he (Lee) must have realised what we UPP are working for; fighting for; must have met his ideals; his ways for struggling for the people.
“We in UPP would like to welcome Dato Sri Benny Lee with open arms and all those led by him into UPP,” Wong said.
UPP Community Service Board (Sibu) deputy chairman of Social Community Development Andrew Ting Kee Nguan and UPP Bawang Assan Bumiputera unit chairman Andrew Shilling were also present.