Branch chief denies UPP sabotaging BN party
SERIAN: United People’s Party ( UPP) is not sabotaging any Barisan Nasional (BN) component in Serian, stresses its Serian branch chairman Senior William Rade.
He slammed the allegation that UPP was playing saboteur – which was recently uttered by a BN leader in Serian – as a statement which was absurd, incorrect and based on assumption and hearsay.
“Let me spell it out very crystal clear that United People’s Party, as a political party aligned to and subscribing to Barisan Nasional big family manifesto, will never sabotage another component party just to gain political mileage and to attract unnecessary short-term attention,” he said yesterday.
Senior, who is also UPP Community Service Board ( Southern Region) deputy chairman, stressed that party members at every branch and grassroots level had been advised to serve and be engaged with the people on the ground at all times.
He said UPP from the beginning of its inception two years ago had always been a service- oriented party and it had set up an educational fund and community service board for southern, central and northern regions.
In fact, he pointed out, it should be UPP that felt being sabotaged after its nominees for councillors in many local councils for the 20162018 term were rejected.
“Let us be open and sincere — who sabotaged the UPP’s nominees for the councillor posts?
“The party was sidelined, but we never made any noise or lodged a complaint. The party central leadership only appealed to the relevant authorities to consider our nominees,” he said.
On the coming 14th general election (GE14), he said it was best to leave the nomination of candidates to the BN top leadership.
“These leaders have the wisdom and criteria to nominate who is the most winnable candidate, be it the incumbent or a new face. They can come up with the formula acceptable by the people come election.
“It would be of great benefit if we all utilise our strength to carry out our commitment to serve the people. Any unnecessary issues or problems must be discussed amicably in the spirit of comradeship,” he said.
As far as UPP was concerned, he said the party leadership would not dwell on petty issues as it was looking at the bigger picture.
He also said UPP Serian branch fully concurred with a recent statement made by party secretary general George Lo that UPP would continue to carry out its commitment to serve the people at all times.
Lo was recently quoted by The Borneo Post as saying that UPP’s proposed candidates for the GE14 had good winning chances, and they had been on the ground providing services to the people.