KUCHING: The Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) wants information and publicity secretary Datuk Alfred Yap to contest the Kota Sentosa seat during the next state election.
SUPP president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan said Yap continued to serve the constituency after his defeat in the May 2006 election despite not holding an official portfolio.
“He goes down to visit houses and tries to solve the problems of everybody, and this is a definite culture that we want in SUPP.
“He is such a sincere person who is willing to serve despite having no position. It is hard for us not to support him. We feel that he deserves another chance and I believe the state Barisan Nasional will agree with us,” Dr Chan told journalists after SUPP Kota Sentosa’s second anniversary dinner, held in conjunction with the party’s 51st anniversary, on Thursday.
“I have no qualms putting him up as the candidate because this is the type of person we like. He continues serving without knowing whether he will be a candidate or not.”
The deputy chief minister said most candidates who lost in the elections did not work as hard as Yap, who is the former Batu Kawa assemblyman.
“As the president of the party, I say he should be encouraged. As far as SUPP is concerned, he is the candidate. He has the spirit to continue serving.
“I think the people will have the same feelings about him, that he has got the sincerity to serve despite not having any prospects of being a candidate or anything,” said Dr Chan.
He added that all SUPP incumbents would defend their respective seats if all goes well.
“Unless something happens, incumbents will stay. And if they have done well, there is no reason to change.”
In his speech earlier, Dr Chan called on party members to work alongside Yap to recover lost ground as the party could not afford another defeat.
He cautioned members not to serve half-heartedly as Yap did not abandon the people, even after being voted out four years ago.
“I receive calls from him (Yap) now and then about problems in the constituency. He wants to help the people and this shows his determination. If every comrade is as determined as he is, I believe our party has a promising future.
“The attitude of our voters has changed, so has Alfred’s. He is no longer the old Alfred. He has shaken a lot of hands since his defeat and what matters most is that his heart remains with the constituents,” said Dr Chan.
Yap lost to the Democratic Action Party’s (DAP) Chong Chieng Jen by a thin majority of 531 votes in 2006.
Before the redelineation exercise in 2005, Yap contested in Batu Kawa.
In 2006, SUPP moved him to Kota Sentosa and fielded Tan Joo Phoi in Batu Kawa. Tan defeated Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PRK) Wong Huan Yu with a 4,180-vote majority.