MIRI: Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui, who has been Miri member of parliament (MP) since 1990, is undecided whether to contest in the 13th General Election (GE) which is expected to be held this year.
Admitting his workload was “quite heavy” since his election as Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president last month, he said that currently, he delegated his parliamentary duties to his political secretary, Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, in the event he was busy with ministerial duties in or outside the country.
“I will judge the level of voter acceptance before making a final decision (on whether to contest in the GE),” he said.
Chin, who is also energy, green technology and water minister, was speaking to reporters after handing over RM33,600 in education aid to students at the Miri SUPP headquarters here today.
Speculation is rife that Chin may not defend his seat but hand over the baton to Ting — who is also party publicity and information secretary –based on the latter’s presence at many party functions here.
So far, SUPP vice-president, five-time Stampin MP and works deputy minister Datuk Yong Khoon Seng is the only MP from Sarawak who has announced his decision not to contest in the GE.
SUPP has a total of five MPs, with the others being Datuk Richard Riot Jaem (Serian), Ding Kuong Hiing (Sarikei) and Datuk Tiong Thai King (Lanang).
On another issue, Chin said he had extended an invitation to six elected assemblymen and MP — who had boycotted last month’s party Triennial Delegates Conference which saw the former winning the party presidency — to attend the party’s Central Working Committee (CWC), the party’s decision-making body, on Jan 13.
“Under the party constitution, they are entitled to attend as observers although they are not CWC members. Hopefully, they accept the invitation because I want to heal and unite the party, that is my New Year wish,” he said.
The six are Bawang assemblyman and Local Goverment and Community Development Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Datuk Lee Kim Shin (Senadin), Datuk Francis Harden Hollis (Simanggang), Ranum Mina (Opar), Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa (Engkilili) and Lanang MP Datuk Tiong Thai King. – Bernama