Meddling Taib may cost SUPP Padungan seat
By Joseph Tawie, Free Malaysia Today
KUCHING: The Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) is in a dilemma over who to field for the Padungan seat in the soon-to-be-held state election.
The relentless infighting in its Kuching branch dating back to the 2004 parliamentary election is of no help to SUPP president George Chan, who also has to contend with the “interfering” Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.
“The internal bickering has caused the loss of the Bandar Kuching parliamentary seat when Wee Kok Kiong was defeated by Chong Chieng Jen and also the loss of Pending and Padungan in the 2006 state election,” noted a veteran SUPP politician who preferred to remain anonymous.
“Wee was sabotaged by groups allegedly connected to Lily Yong, (then) the state assemblywoman for Padungan. And then in the 2006 state election, Wee’s supporters allegedly took their revenge against Yong, resulting in her defeat in the hands of Dominique Ng of PKR.
“It was a tit for tat,” he added, pointing out that the animosity between the two groups had remained serious till this day.
This would also explain why Chan was adamant on fielding a new face, saying that he did not want a “recycled” candidate for Padungan, despite a strong recommendation from branch members that Yong be nominated.
Party sources said topping the list of those identified for the Kuching seat were current city mayor James Chan, cardiologist Dr Sim Kui Hian, Kuching branch youth chief Bong Lian Huan and its women leader Chong Lee Choo.
List aside, sources said that the SUPP president had to also deal with Taib who prefered his “man” James Chan to wrest back the seat from the opposition.
Meddling Taib
Chan, formerly from a timber company, was personally hand-picked by Taib to be appointed Kuching mayor despite strong opposition from SUPP.
