Dr Sim won’t reveal SUPP’s list of Pujut candidates
KUCHING: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian has remained tight-lipped about the party’s list of recommended candidates for the Pujut byelection fixed for July 4.
All he was willing to say so far was that the list had been submitted to the state Barisan Nasional (BN) for consideration.
When asked how many names were on that list, Dr Sim said yesterday: “I cannot reveal all the strategy.”
He quickly added that the BN chairman would announce the candidate later.
He said “the one who signs that piece of letter (of appointment) that you have to bring to the nomination centre” would announce the BN candidate for the by-election.
To another question, he quipped: “There is only one BN chairman who will sign. That (letter of appointment) has to be signed by the BN chairman and always by the BN chairman.”
Dr Sim, who is also Local Government and Housing Minister, maintains that Pujut is traditionally SUPP’s seat.
He said: “If anybody thinks they deserve to be the candidate, give me their CV (curriculum vitae) and join SUPP.”
“Pujut is (a) very tough seat, not a seat that money can buy. And SUPP, under Dr Sim, is very poor. This Housing Minister doesn’t have a house, I stay with my mother,” he added.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also national BN chairman, is expected to sign and issue the letter of appointment to the BN candidate before the nomination, which is set for June 20.
The Pujut state seat fell vacant when former assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon of DAP was removed by the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) on May 12 for having dual citizenship in Australia and Malaysia.
In the 2016 state election, Dr Ting won the seat with a 1,759vote majority in a four-cornered fight against BN direct candidate Datuk Hii King Chiong, Jofri Jaraiee of PAS and former Pujut assemblyman Fong Pau Teck who stood as an independent after being sacked by DAP in 2013.
Pujut is (a) very tough seat, not a seat that money can buy. And SUPP, under Dr Sim, is very poor. This Housing Minister doesn’t have a house, I stay with my mother. — Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) president