Soon Koh: UPP will deliver seats for BN in upcoming polls

KUCHING: United People’s Party ( UPP) president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh has given his assurance to the top BN leadership that the party will deliver seats for the BN in the upcoming general election as it has the necessary resources.

He is confident that the top leadership will decide on the best candidates to represent the BN in areas where UPP has the edge over the opposition.

“I am sure the BN leadership knows as it will access the ground on the winnable candidates to represent BN and to win seats for BN. If given the opportunity, we will definitely deliver ( the seats given to UPP) because we have the manpower and financial resources to do so,” Wong told the press on the sidelines of the State Legislative Assembly’s 150th anniversary celebration here yesterday.

Wong, who is also Minister of International Trade and ECommerce, said he had sent the list of UPP candidates to both Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg for consideration.

“When the time comes, we will see what we can do but we will leave it to the political wisdom of both the prime minister and the chief minister,” he said.

Wong reiterated that UPP was not interested to quarrel over seats with its nemesis SUPP as it would be pointless to do so.

“This is what I said all along. We have spoken to the prime minister and the chief minister. We will leave the final decision to both of them,” he said.

When asked how many seats UPP was eyeing, Wong said he could not be specific as he preferred the matter to remain private and confidential.

“I have submitted the names of winnable candidates in certain areas. I don’t want to be specific lah… I don’t want to elaborate, except to say that I have submitted the names of winnable candidates. It’s up to them ( BN leadership) to decide,” added Wong.

Based on reports, there is no secret that UPP is eyeing Lanang and Sibu. In its latest Facebook post, UPP is also keen to lobby for Miri.

In the posting, three names from UPP who have been recommended to the top BN leadership are Dato Andrew Wong for Sibu, Andrew Ting for Lanang and Bruce Chai for Miri.

Meanwhile, Wong who is also Second Finance Minister, said that Col lege of Technology Sarawak ( UCTS) has targeted least 5,000 students in the next five years from its current population of 2,000.

“It’s a very unique university as it is built and funded by the state government but is run as a private institution,” he said, adding the state government had invested a few hundred million ringgit on the infrastructure and setting up of the university.