More Trouble Brewing For SUPP
(Bernama) – KUALA LUMPUR — A group of Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) grassroot leaders has given an ultimatum to their president Dr George Chan to convene an emergency Central Committee (CC) meeting within 14 days or face legal action.
The group took the action after the Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting on May 27, which was chaired by Dr Chan, had rejected a requisition by 58 CC members to convene an emergency meeting to discuss several important motions.
The ultimatum was contained in a letter dated May 31 and made through their solicitor Wong, Orlando Chua & Kuek Advocates to Dr Chan.
“We are appointed by a group of SUPP party members and Central Committee members to apply for a court order relating to matters pursuant to Articles 23, 25 (9) and 25 (24) of the SUPP Constitution & Rules (the constitution).
“Our clients were furious and disappointed when the Central Working Committee on May 27 rejected unconstitutionally the requisitions,” a spokesman for the law firm said.
In their opinion, the CWC has no authority to reject requisitions to convene a CC meeting rightfully requested by CC members under Article 23, and branches and sub-branches under Articles 25 (9) and 25 (24) of the constitution.
Dr Chan, when contacted confirmed he received the letter and was disappointed with certain people in the party who had resorted to such a tactic, as the decision not to call for the emergency CC meeting was decided by CWC, hence it should be respected by all party members.
“The party is already facing such a difficult time. This sort of action is the last thing that we need now. I can tell you that it is a personal attack against me. What they want is forcing me to step down immediately,” he said.
In fact, Dr Chan said, he and party secretary-general Sim Kheng Hui had already tendered their resignation letter, a day after the April 26 state election in which the party took a beating, losing 13 of the 19 seats it contested.
“However, the emergency CWC meeting convened a day after we tendered our resignation letter rejected our resignation. They asked me to hold on until the year end when the party is scheduled to hold its triennial general meeting (TGM) as the party delegates will pick their leaders,” he said.
He explained that should the emergency CC be called, only a small number of CC members (about 130) could pick the party leaders and this might not go down well with the party members at the grassroot level.
“Moreover, between now and the TGM is only a matter of another six months.
Why do they need to do this?” said Chan, adding that he would seek legal advice on his next course of action.
