Four new faces in SUPP line-up in coming polls

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Dr Jerip Susil

KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Datuk Seri Peter Chin yesterday revealed that there will be four new faces among SUPP’s seven candidates for the 13th General Election.

However, Chin, who is Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister refused to disclose the names.

He was speaking to reporters after witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Shanghai Jiao Tong University of China and SJT-Uni (M) Sdn Bhd, a sub-division of SUPP, here yesterday.

Meanwhile, the six state assemblymen from SUPP yesterday reiterated that it was not yet time for them to work with the new leadership led by Chin.

Assistant Minister for Public Health Dr Jerip Susil, who spoke on behalf of the group, said
they were still waiting for the result of an inquiry by the Registrar of Society (ROS) on the “irregularities” of the last triennial delegates’ conference (TDC) in December 2011.

The Bengoh assemblyman pointed out that their priority was to ensure that SUPP would win all the parliamentary seats in the upcoming general election.

“At this point of the time, we are unable to work together but at the same time, any differences arising from the TDC we leave it to ROS because they are our arbitrator for all the irregularities now,” he told the press on the sideline of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting.

The other members of the group are Second Finance Minister and Bawang Assan assemblyman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Assistant Minister of Sports Datuk Lee Kim Shin (Senadin), Assistant Minister for Rural Development Datuk Francis Harden Hollis (Simanggang), Opar assemblyman Ranum Mina and Engkilili assemblyman Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa.

Dr Jerip revealed that the group had recommended the potential candidates for the seven parliamentary seats of SUPP but refused to disclose the details of the list.

He stressed that at the moment putting up winnable candidates was far more important than any issue facing the party.

“There is no question of they submit or we submit (the list). We now base our recommendation on the ground (reaction) for the winnable candidates.

“Sometimes, the same person is recommended by both parties and the person is also recommended by the Barisan (Nasional). So, there is no particular group that supersedes the other. What is important is who is winnable.”

On the party’s chances of winning in the seven seats, Dr Jerip expressed confidence that Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Richard Riot Jaem would help to retain the Serian seat.

However, on the Chinese-majority seats namely Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Sarikei, Lanang, Sibu, Miri, Dr Jerip replied: “We are working very hard on the winnable candidates”.