Ko Wai Neng
KUCHING: Pemanca Ko Wai Neng believes that a special delegates conference (SDC) will help end the current internal disputes of Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP).
He said the future of SUPP is not in the hands of a few people but all the members should have their say in the decision-making process.
“SUPP has reacted promptly by calling a few meetings among the top leaders after its disastrous performance in the 10th state election. However, it seems they have yet to reach a consensus on their immediate strategies and plans.
“I support the suggestion by few senior members that a SDC should be called to decide on certain issues. The SDC should be closed door and allow all the members to be involved in the process,” he said.
Ko, the community leader serving in Padungan, said SUPP still has the chance to make a come back if they were serious in facing their problems and weaknesses.
He believed SUPP still has support from many Sarawakians, rain or shine.
“SUPP should not let its hardcore supporters down. Let bygones be bygones. What is vital for SUPP now is to figure out the way forward.
“I believe voters are rational. Since they have voted for the oppositions, they will judge their performance in the next five years,” he said.
On the resignation of SUPP president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan and secretary-general Datuk Sim Kheng Hui, Ko agreed with the decision of the party central working committee (CWC) that they should sit out their term until the next triennial delegates conference (TDC) in December.
He pointed out that it was improper that only Dr Chan and Sim be held responsible for the defeat.
“SUPP is a team. Such responsibility should not be shouldered by only a few people. Furthermore, it is not the correct time for them to make such a rash decision,” he said.
SUPP Tanjong Datu Branch chairman Pung Teng Hong on Wednesday urged the party to have a SDC as soon as possible to put an end to current internal fighting.
He stressed that all the recent disputes must be settled before the TDC on Dec 10 and 11.
SUPP Central Women Section chairwoman Suzanne Lee supported Pung’s suggestion.
SUPP plunged into the latest crisis following the CWC meeting last Monday morning.
It was believed that CWC had decided that only Bumiputra elected representatives would be recommended to the state cabinet but Bawang Assan assemblyman Wong Soon Koh was sworn in as a member of the new state cabinet on Monday afternoon.
SUPP CWC issued a press statement the next morning saying that Wong’s acceptance of becoming a state cabinet member was strictly his personal decision.
However, Dr Chan, when contacted on Tuesday, said the statement issued by the party central secretariat did not have his blessing.
He said denying winning SUPP Chinese candidates, Wong and Datuk Lee Kim Shin (Senadin), from joining the state cabinet was not a solution.
The former deputy chief minister added that no matter what, SUPP should have a representation in the cabinet so that they could voice out the needs of the Chinese community and request assistance from the state government.