SUPP eyes Sibu and Lanang seats in 14th GE

SIBU: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) is drumming up support from local folk to take the Sibu and Lanang parliamentary seats in the 14th general election (GE).

SUPP Bukit Assek chairman Chieng Buong Toon said the riverine town had lost much in terms of government allocation since the two areas fell to the opposition.

“I think GE14 is coming soon, and hope that SUPP could get support from Sibu people and re-capture the two seats, namely Lanang and Sibu. I think if we could win back the seats, we could get more allocations from the government to develop Sibu,” Chieng told reporters.

He was met after SUPP’s 58th anniversary dinner here Friday. It was jointly organised by the party’s five branches here, namely Bawang Assan, Pelawan, Bukit Assek, Nangka and Dudong.

SUPP president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian officiated at the opening of the event, which was also attended by vicepresident II Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, who is Assistant Minister of Community Well Being, secretary-general Dato Sebastian Ting, treasurer Datuk Ding Kuong Hiing, who is Meradong assemblyman, branch chairmen – Chua Beng Seng (Nangka), Clarence Ting (Pelawan) and Datuk Dr Soon Choon Teck (Dudong), political secretaries to chief minister Michael Tiang, Daniel Bujal, SUPP aspiring candidates for Lanang Wong Ching Yong, Kelvin Kong and Joseph Chieng as well as representatives from state Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties – PBB, PRS and PDP.

Chieng said SUPP has received strong support from BN component parties – PBB, PRS and PDP – during tough times.

Asked on why there were three aspiring candidates for Lanang, he explained that they were just potential candidates.

“The final decision rests with our Chief Minister (Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg) and Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak),” he added.

Touching on Sibu parliamentary seat, he hinted that there could be more than just one potential candidate (other than SUPP Bawang Assan chairman Robert Lau).

“So far, (SUPP) Nangka (branch) also recommended some (names). But they (potential candidates) have to work hard and not just because of the (coming) election,” he said.

Under the leadership of Dr Sim, who is Local Government and Housing Minister, he noted that the party had recruited a lot of those from the younger generation to groom them as future leaders.

“We give opportunity to the younger generation,” he said.

— Chieng Buong Toon, SUPP Bukit Assek branch chairman