SUPP leaders, members told to be ready for ‘battle’

KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) leaders and members have been told to be ready for ‘battle’ during the next parliamentary election.

SUPP president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said members must arm themselves with facts and relevant information, as well as be alert to fake news circulated through social media or used by the opposition.

“You must do your homework if you want to win the election. And beware of fake news. I have put up a slide on my Facebook page, telling people that the Penang state government is not as good as the opposition has claimed it to be.

“Sarawak is estimated to record a deficit of RM256 million next year while Selangor and Penang are expected to see deficits of RM870 million and RM748 million respectively. In this case, is Penang better?” he questioned when opening SUPP’s Triennial Delegates Conference (TDC) yesterday.

Dr Sim advised delegates not to aim for individual agendas but place the party’s interests above all else.

“We need unity and to be ready for war. There are 90 or so days left and 90 days is not long.

“We need to give all the very best in order to win big. We have seven (parliamentary) seats and we want to win big, not just one seat – Serian – only,” he stressed.

Dr Sim said SUPP has increased its membership to 122,678 from last year’s 111,000.

One third of the members are Bumiputera, while 55 per cent are male.

“Only 12 per cent of all our members are aged under 40. This number is quite small but we are happy that after 59 years, SUPP remains as a multiracial party,” he added.

Some 320 SUPP delegates from across the state attended the opening ceremony.

During the 2013 parliamentary election, SUPP lost six of its seven seats – Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Sarikei, Sibu, Lanang and Miri.