SIBU: The five branches of SUPP here have unanimously stated that they will not accept Barisan Nasional (BN)-friendly parties into the coalition’s fold.
In a joint press statement on Friday, SUPP’s Dudong, Bukit Assek, Pelawan, Nangka and Bawang Assan branches said such a move would go against the spirit and constitution of the BN, adding it would set an unhealthy precedence for its 13 component parties.
“Should this be allowed, it would create confusion, fear and instability. In the end, it could affect the unity within BN,” the statement said.
Just recently, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced that BN-Plus parties could stand under BN banner in elections.
“According to BN regulations, a new party that wishes to become its member must get approvals from all component parties.
“In this regard, SUPP will in no way accept UPP (United People’s party) and Teras (Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak) as members.”
The five SUPP branches, however, agreed with Najib that the Chinese should not set up too many political parties, as this would affect their solidarity.
“Our stand is all BN component parties must accept that the Chinese in Sarawak should unite under SUPP, in living up to the true spirit of BN.”
For SUPP, the five said they would fight for their rights to contest in all 19 seats allocated to the party.
“We will accept nothing less. In Sibu, SUPP is given four seats (Dudong, Bukit Assek, Pelawan and Bawan Assan). Therefore, BN candidates should come from SUPP in these constituencies.
“There are only four component BN parties in Sarawak – PBB, SUPP, SPDP and PRS.”
Meanwhile, SUPP Pelawan secretary Michael Tiang went on to claim that UPP and Teras, being BN-friendly parties, were only endorsed by Najib to play the role of ‘cheerleaders’ in the next state election.
His remarks yesterday were made in response to an earlier one given by UPP Bawang Assan vice-chairman Andrew Shiling, who said Najib in his capacity as the national BN chairman, had endorsed UPP’s status as a BN Plus party.
“If it were to be Najib’s intention to endorse UPP and Teras as BN members, there wouldn’t be a need for him to label the two as BN Plus. He would have just endorsed them as BN component parties. The clear fact is Najib only addresses UPP and Teras as BN Plus (parties),” Tiang said.