SUPP’s fears of losing power
By Roselind Jarrow, Free Malaysia Today
KUCHING: There is a real danger that Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) may lose power and influence in the state government, come the next state election.
“The next state government in Sarawak may have no Chinese representation if Chinese voters choose to support the opposition,” said SUPP deputy secretary-general Wong Soon Koh.
“Like it or not, the Barisan Nasional in Sarawak will form the next state government. But if the Chinese voters choose to support the opposition, then I am afraid we will not have representation in the BN government,” said Wong, who is also the Second Finance Minister.
He warned that the absence of Chinese in the government might lead to some form of political or racial polarisation.
SUPP, he said, was ready to face the state election that might be called any time between now and May next year.
“We are working very hard. We are going to tell the people that they can only count on SUPP,” Wong said.
Early this month, another SUPP leader, Peter Chin, has expressed fears of losing some seats in the coming state election.
He admitted that the party had some problems with the Chinese voters as indicated with the loss of Sibu, its stronghold for the past 20 years, in the May 16 by-election.
The defeat should be a “wake-up” call for the party, he said.
Taib warns SUPP
It is understood that during a recent BN meeting, Chief Minister and state BN chairman Abdul Taib Mahmud was said to have warned SUPP leaders that the party might lose its position and influence in the state government.
He told them to work hard to woo back the Chinese voters, otherwise they might lose their political power in the next election.
Taib said that he might consider giving more ministerial posts to Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) as a way to thank the rural people for their loyal support to BN.
Currently, SUPP has two full ministers who are given powerful positions in the state government as compared with one ministerial post given to PRS and SPDP each.
