High time for ROS decision on fate of SUPP — Chou

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KUCHING: A political observer feels that the Chinese community is now more concerned about the status of Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and its internal dispute,

Dr Chou Chii Ming, former president of Federation of Kuching-Samarahan Chinese Associations, said the Registrar of Societies (ROS) must announce its decision on allegations of election irregularities reported at the party’s triennial delegates conference (TDC) in Dec 2011 now.

“The Chinese community is anxious to know the decision of the ROS on the SUPP disputes of the alleged irregularity at its last TDC. Such decision will determine the future of SUPP.

“Once the decision is known, the Chinese community will then again make a choice between Pakatan Rakyat and BN to be the next government,” he said when contacted here yesterday.

He was asked to comment on the remarks of PBB supreme council member Datuk Seri Dr James Dawos Mamit, who during the recent Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) convention said SUPP needed a strategy to recover lost battles. From the statement of Dawos Chou believed PBB leaders had some strategy in mind to help SUPP win back urban voters.

“Dawos must have something in mind as to how to change the hearts and mind of the urban voters,” he said.

The fate of SUPP hinges on the decision by ROS on the legality of the election of office bearers during its last party election. Although Chou admitted he feared for the worst over the decision of ROS, the Chinese community deserved an answer from the authorities.

SUPP has been divided into two factions – one led by president Tan Sri Peter Chin while Sibu branch chief Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh leads the other side since the TDC due to alleged election irregularities.

Wong’s side comprises all SUPP state assemblymen – Ranum Mina (Opar), Datuk Dr Jerip Susil (Bengoh), Datuk Francis Harden Hollis (Simanggang), Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa (Engkilili) and Datuk Lee Kim Shin (Senadin).