‘Proposed potential candidates: SUPP criticism unwarranted’
KUCHING: United People’s Party ( UPP) views criticism by Sarawak United People’s Party ( SUPP) members of its proposal of Dato Andrew Wong Kee Yew and Andrew Ting Kee Nguan as potential candidates to be considered by Barisan Nasional ( BN) for the seats of Sibu and Lanang respectively as unwarranted.
In a statement released yesterday, UPP Secretary General George Lo said the party was merely putting forward names that it believes are winnable BN candidates for the two seats.
“At the end of the day, the choice of candidates is up to the BN leaders in the person of the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister. We merely put forward names that we believe are winnable candidates,” he said.
UPP backed up their recommendation of Wong by pointing out the five-year development plan for Sibu is the brain- child of UPP Central Region Service Board under Wong’s chairmanship.
The plan will transform Sibu in ways that will prove to be highly beneficial for all who reside in this region.
UPP announced its choice of Wong and Ting as potential BN candidates during the launch of the Sibu Five-year development plan recently because the party believe that early identification of potential candidates will allow the people more time to assess them on their merits.
Touching on the reconciliation between the two parties Lo said the demand by SUPP that UPP members including their president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh return to SUPP without condition is totally unacceptable.
“It would be tantamount to a complete surrender of what we have fought for the past three years. It would be to disregard our party, our leaders and members ignoring that we have five state assemblymen who hold two full Ministerial portfolios and one Assistant Minister post as well as Chairmanship of Sibu Council as well as all our grassroot leaders such as councillors and Ketua Masyarakat (community leaders).
It is, in short, the height of arrogance to demand that all UPP members leave UPP to join SUPP as ordinary members unconditionally.”
Lo said the only way for reconciliation would be through a merger of the two parties on terms that can really win the hearts of members of both parties.
A meaningful solution must be one based on mutual respect which is acceptable to all members and the Chinese community who hope and wish to see the two parties united in representing them.