KUCHING: About 5,000 Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) members from throughout the state are expected to congregate at its first and largest SUPP Convention 2011 to be held here on Jan 16.
SUPP president and Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan said the convention was meant to ‘motivate members and get the party together’.
“This is the first time we have such a convention, judging from the size and nature.
“We have triennial delegates’ conference (TDC) every three years but this is different,” he said.
He believed that SUPP members would have a renewed faith after the convention, especially with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as the guest-of-honour.
“All SUPP members, not necessarily delegates are welcome to the convention but some may not be able to make it due to distance,” he told a news conference at BCCK here yesterday.
He explained that the convention was in line with Najib’s 1Malaysia concept with slogan emphasis, ‘People First, Performance Now’.
Dr Chan pointed out that the communities were well aware that the SUPP had struggled for them while many people opined it was time for the party to recover what had been lost.
“Response for the convention is tremendous and a lot of people in town feel that it is time SUPP gain back its position.”
He said a booklet would be compiled in conjunction with the convention as an effort to enlighten young members on the struggles and achievements of SUPP.
He felt that the booklet were meant to motivate young members so that they would shoulder the obligation to continue what the party had been doing for the communities in the state.
A declaration will be called at the coming convention. Besides Najib, Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud will also deliver a speech to address the convention.
On the declaration, Dr Chan said members would be discussing on current issues of importance to the people statewide.
“Mostly current issues like education and land,” he disclosed.
However, he said there would not be any dialogue session with Najib, given that the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman might have a tight schedule on that day.
Dr Chan is also the adviser to the SUPP Convention 2011 organising committee, while the joint organising chairmen are Senator Datuk Sim Kheng Hui, Datuk David Teng, Datuk Lily Yong, Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, Datuk Lee Kim Shin and Tan Joo Phoi.
The party has lined up a full organising committee to ensure its smooth running.
Among those present yesterday were Sim, who is SUPP secretary-general, publicity and information secretary Datuk Alfred Yap, youth chief Sih Hua Tong, central working committee members Tan and Cheng Yi.