PLEDGING THEIR SUPPORT: The five assemblymen and four political secretaries to the Chief Minister with Wong after pledging their support for him.
SIBU: The faction aligned to Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Sibu Branch chairman, in the on-going party dispute has met Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud on Sunday night to seek his advice on resolving the crisis.
The faction is led by five state assemblymen Datuk Lee Khim Shim, Datuk Francis Hardin, Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, Ranum Mina and Johnnical Rayong and four political secretaries to the chief minister.
The four political secretaries to the Chief Minister are Andrew Shilling, Suzanne Lee, Ku Fut Po and Phang Dah Nan. Dr Jerip told The Borneo Post yesterday that they were very happy with the outcome of the talk with the chief minister and his advice on how the party should move forward.
Meanwhile, party’s branch in Sibu said the six charges brought against its branch chairman Wong in a show-cause letter issued by the party’s disciplinary panel were baseless and unjust.
The branch office in statement released yesterday said Wong was asked to explain why he used his ministerial authority to appoint community leaders and council chairman, namely Frederick Wong as a Pemanca of Sarikei, Chan Phan Chan as the chairman of Sarikei Municipal Council, a Temenggong in Kuching and a Penghulu in Kanowit.
Wong is the state’s Minister of Local Government and Community Development which empowers him to appoint community leaders.
The statement added that the panel also accused Wong of encouraging Stephen Wong to contest in the Sarikei Parliamentary seat in the 2008 general election and for recommending Chan Phan Chan as the candidate of the same parliamentary seat in the last general election.
“As we see it, these “charges” brought against our chairman are baseless,” the statement said.
The branch said in the first place, Tan Sri Peter Chin’s faction had tried to block Wong from taking up his ministerial post and now they wanted to control his ministerial duties.
“From feedback, we see the Chinese community is fed up with their deeds. What the party should do now is to mend relationship with the people, and not do something that turns them off.”
The branch warned what the leaders in the Central Committee were doing now could destroy SUPP – the oldest political party in the state .
The statement said after Wong received the disciplinary letter, SUPP Sibu Branch held a meeting last Saturday afternoon.
“Our 15 units resolved to sink or swim with our chairman. We are fully behind him to fight the unjustified accusations against our chairman.”
The branch felt what the party central leadership was doing now was wrong because the ROS is probing the alleged party election irregularities.
“At such time, the party is only allowed to carry out daily administration work. Disciplinary matter is outside its scope.
“But, it seems Chin’s faction is only interested in bringing leaders down. Numerous party members and branches in the state are now with us. We are all behind Dato Sri Wong.”