SUPP deputy secretary-general calls on top SUPP leaders to resign
KUCHING: Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh finally broke his silence on the aftermath of Sarawak United People’s Party’s (SUPP) dismal performance in the last two state elections by calling on all top leaders of the party, including himself, to resign from their positions to take responsibility for the party’s defeat.
“I’m not one of the ‘four kings’ in SUPP, but was fortunate to have survived and get re-elected.
“Nevertheless, I must also shoulder the responsibility for the party’s loss by giving up my post in the party. Likewise, other top leaders must also relinquish all their posts in the party,” he said.
The Bawang Assan assemblyman is one of the only two Chinese candidates from Barisan Nasional (BN) who won in the just concluded 10th state election. The other assemblyman is Datuk Lee Kim Shin of Senadin.
Wong has been reappointed as a full minister taking the portfolios of Environment and Public Health Minister and Second Minister of Finance.
He said that now that he is in the state cabinet he would endeavour his best to discharge his duties and responsibilities as entrusted by the voters, as well as faithfully work for the party.
“My other important task in the next five years is to work closely with the party to nurture and guide the new leadership of the party,” said Wong, who is SUPP deputy secretary general.
He is also determined and confident that he would fight for the interest of the Chinese community and the people of Sarawak in an effort to change the image of the party to regain the confidence of the people in SUPP.
“After five years, I would not seek for re-election. I shall leave Sarawak politics for good.”
He is also prepared to be subjected to evaluation by the people on his works and that if he did not live up to their expectation, he would resign immediately.
On the Chinese representation in the state cabinet, he said the Chinese must not be left out of the government of the day so that they could have a say and voice out their opinions on matters affecting their community.
“This is actually a very simple truth. However, the truth has been twisted. We all know that there is no one single party that can rule in Sarawak political arena. This includes parties like SUPP and Democratic Action Party (DAP) which are both Chinese dominated.”
He cautioned if the Chinese were not represented in the government there would be no one voicing out their needs and rights.
“Do the Chinese really want to be a race outside the government?”
He cited a scenario that if Pakatan Rakyat (PR) were to form government, DAP like SUPP being Chinese dominated would be representing the Chinese.
“Even if it is PR forming the government, we still need Chinese representation.”
Looking at the component parties of PR, the controlling power came from the central committee in the peninsula.
He warned that Sarawak would be in danger should PR form the government.
“Sarawak would share the same fate as Sabah. We won’t be able to even safeguard Sarawak, what more to say protecting Chinese rights?”
He said he did not mean to threaten or being over cautious about the situation, but was sharing the same sentiments of many leaders in Sarawak.
He said that over half of the Chinese had voted against SUPP in the recent state election which reflected that SUPP had not played their role well.
He said there was a need for change and reform at the central leadership with the injection of new and younger leaders to breathe new life and bring the party forward.
He praised the boldness of the party president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan and secretary general Datuk Sim Kheng Hui in resigning to take responsibility for the losses in the election which saw SUPP being relegated from number two in State BN to the smallest component.
The results of the last two state elections are concrete evidences that the present leadership could do no more to revive the party, he added.
“The leaders should resign and not to take up any key positions in the party to show their responsibility and personal dignity.”
He urged the defeated leaders not to bother about positions in the party, but to support and help the new leaders to revive the party.
“There is only one way – to face reality, enter into self-reflection, reform, go back to the grassroots – to party’s unity and regain people’s confidence. There is no other way.”