KUCHING: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Bintulu and Kemena have joined Simanggang and Engkilili to lend support to Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh and Infrastructure Development and Communication Assistant Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin as the incoming president and secretary-general.
Bintulu chairman Henry Ling Kuong Meng in a press statement yesterday said the branch had conducted a Short-Message-Service (SMS) poll of the branch committee and active members and findings suggested that members would be rallying behind Wong and Lee at the party’s Triennial Delegates Conference expected end of the year.
“Wong comes with vast experience in politics and with his leadership skills, he will have certain level of influence within the party.
“If Wong is tasked with rejuvenating the party and Lee Kim Shin is elected as the secretary-general to be his right-hand man, SUPP will see radical reforms,” he told a news conference in Bintulu yesterday.
Ling, who lost to DAP Kidurong assemblyman Chiew Chiu Sing in the state election, believed that Wong and Lee, who were re-elected on April 16 would be better leaders to address the needs of the people.
“The fact that both of them are in the state cabinet is an added advantage. They will bring a clear voice to the cabinet.”
Ling hoped all SUPP branches would collaborate with each another to elect leaders with calibre to succeed the current leadership headed by Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan.
“However, the Bintulu branch is subject to the triennial general meeting and branch leadership election to be held in Bintulu on November 13 this year.
“It must be noted that the official branch delegates will have a final say on who should be the SUPP central leaders at the triennial delegates conference in December this year,” said Ling.
Meanwhile, Kemena chairman Bilong Enssi@Anssi urged members to adhere to the spirit of party slogan ‘Sa’ati’ and not to be discouraged by internal bickering.
He said branch members supported Wong and Lee to take over as the top leaders of SUPP during the party election.
“As Dayak members of SUPP, we will continue working closely with members of other races as undivided unity should be placed above all. We are not fighting for one single race but the community as a whole.”
Bilong added that members should shoulder the obligation to move the party forward.