KUCHING: SUPP Youth ‘vigorously’ doubts the sincerity of a proposal for a sit-down luncheon to reconcile SUPP and UPP this Thursday (March 19) because of UPP’s insistence to contest in SUPP seats.
SUPP Youth publicity secretary Milton Foo said the announcement made by UPP Youth chief Dr Johnical Rayong that UPP will contest in Bawang Assan, Engkilili, Bengoh, Opar, Simanggang, Meradong, Sarikei, Dudong, Palawan, Piasau, Pujut and Batu Kawah is seen as a challenge to SUPP’s position as a Barisan Nasional component.
Not only that, he also pointed to the fact that Temenggung Lu Kim Yong – who made the invitation for the sit-down luncheon – lacks neutrality to act as a facilitator or mediator for the two parties because Lu himself is a former SUPP member who has now joined UPP.
“SUPP has no right to prevent UPP from sending its candidates to contest in any constituency as UPP or independent candidate, but SUPP as a component party in BN has every right to defend seats belonging to SUPP and preserve the party’s dignity in BN.
“SUPP Youth Central also stressed that most of the UPP leaders are former SUPP leaders or members, either were expelled for violating party discipline, or resigned themselves to leave SUPP.
“Under the umbrella of UPP, they are desperate in getting UPP into the door of BN and thus the so-called ‘negotiation for cooperation’ with SUPP came into picture. And yet oddly (they are) declaring that UPP is ever ready to contest in the 12 constituencies belonging to SUPP ,” Foo said in a statement.
Rayong, when speaking to reporters on Friday evening, said both UPP Youth and Women wings have resolved that three incumbents in the party would defend their respective state seats and the party would also be eyeing Simanggang, Meradong, Sarikei, Dudong, Palawan, Piasau, Pujut and Batu Kawah.
The four incumbents in UPP are party president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh who is assemblyman for Bawang Assan, deputy president Datuk Dr Jerip Susil (Bengoh), senior vice president Ranum Mina (Opar) and Rayong himself (Engkilili).
They all won their seats in the 2011 state election under SUPP ticket.
Foo also said UPP should leave it to the Chief Minister to decide the winnable candidates for the constituencies mentioned above. “Rayong is reminded that what Chief Minister meant before in his statement is winnable candidates (to be chosen) from BN component parties,” he added.
“The point is, UPP is not a BN component party and thus the issue of UPP contesting under BN ticket would not arise as long as UPP is a non-BN party.”
He said SUPP Youth Central shall preserve resolutely allocation of the 19 seats to the party in the state election without compromise including any of the 11 new proposed seats allocated to SUPP.