SHOW OF SUPPORT: Senior (fourth right) and other members posing for a photo after the press conference.
KUCHING: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Serian branch has pledged its full support for Sibu branch chairman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh in the party’s internal dispute.
Yesterday, several members from Serian branch led by its Youth chief Mathew Kong Kim Hua, and deputy Youth chief Senior William Rade, held a press conference at Sarawak Club to pledge their undivided support for Wong.
“We are gathering here to show our full, undivided and strong support for the leadership of Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh as we find the so-called charges hurled against our leader (Wong) baseless.
“The secretariat (SUPP) cannot simply issue a show cause letter at their whim and fancy as we are governed by rules and regulations,” said William, in a media statement distributed to the media.
William asserted that the branch members will continue to fully and solidly stand, and remain united behind Wong’s leadership in the spirit of solidarity, adding: “ We believe that if any action is taken against one member, especially the leadership, they are also acting against all of us.”
He further asserted that the branch had decided and pledged ‘to go all out’ to be with Wong and the other party leaders aligned to him ‘no matter what happens’.
“We will stick with him (Wong) through thick and thin, especially to fight against the unjustified charges thrown against Wong, which we find are baseless and inappropriate especially when the party is facing a hard time,” he stressed.
He added that Registrar of Societies (ROS) is still in the midst of probing the alleged party election irregularities and should not be hampered by any interference from the party.
“Responsible and caring party members should be finding and looking into ways on how to reconcile the differences, adding that the party branch was in sync with the suggestions highlighted and put forward by party leaders in Bau, Mukah and Limbang branches,” he stressed.
William said the branch also agreed that all defeated senior party leaders should withdraw gracefully and be replaced by all elected representatives to lead the party.
He stressed that the party branch want those who play a role in manipulating the party election be strongly reprimanded and held responsible should anything happen to the party.