Hii’s suspension throws spanner in reconciliation works, axe looms over Wong

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SIBU: Just three days after Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Tan Sri Peter Chin shook hands with Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh in the presence of chief minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem in Mukah, raising hopes that the internal feud besetting the party would end soon, the party’s Central Working Committee (CWC) rocked the boat yesterday by suspending Pemanca Thomas Hii.

Hii, a member of the suspended Bintangor branch, who is aligned to Wong in the dispute, confirmed he had received a letter from the CWC suspending him from the party for three years.

“I confirm I have received the suspension letter today. There are other reporters asking me about that too, and I have given them the same reply,” Hii told The Borneo Post yesterday.

Hii is the latest leader in Wong’s faction to face the wrath of the CWC. On the eve of that symbolic handshake, three members of the Sarikei branch- Chan Phan Chan, Penghulu Sia Jii Ming and Kapitan Wong Yew Nung – were sacked by the council.

Party members aligned to Wong here expressed shock and disappointment over the moves taken by the CWC as its action could put reconciliation between the two faction beyond reach despite Adenan’s efforts to bring them back together.

With the latest expulsions and suspension, they were convinced that Chin’s camp was not sincere in seeking a solution to the crisis gripping the party.

Hii, when asked by reporters on how he would react, said: “Due to illegitimacy of the so-called party central leadership, I shall not accept such a disciplinary action.

“Furthermore, they should not do so (taking disciplinary action) since ROS had issued a show cause letter to SUPP.”

He said since SUPP central leadership is illegitimate, “I will treat this letter as null and void.”

Party members here fear the split in the party would get worse and that Wong would be next to be kicked out as there were claims that the CWC had made the decision to sack him but had not announced it.