New resolution irks Dayaks in SUPP
Rival SUPP group headed by former deputy secretary general Wong Soon Koh wants the ROS to look into a resolution which they claim will sideline Dayak members.
(Free Malaysia Today) – Former Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) deputy secretary-general Wong Soon Koh and his G7 (group of seven) who boycotted the party’s triennial delegates conference (TDC) due to alleged irregularities have now turned their guns on the party’s newly elected deputy president Richard Riot.
They have accused him of being used for “window dressing” for the predominantly Chinese party.
According to Engkilili assembyman Johnical Rayong, who is a G7 member, the recent TDC had passed a resolution to elevate the secretary-general into the second most powerful position ahead of the deputy president.
“Being the only Dayak in Peter Chin’s line-up in the party central committee, it is not unexpected as he was a lone ranger,” said Rayong.
Besides Wong and Rayong, the other members are MP for Lanang Tiong Thai King, assemblymen Jerip Susil (Bengoh) Ranum Min (Opar) Francis Harden (Simanggang) and Lee Kim Shin (Senadin).
Wong and his group refused to attend the TDC, citing various irregularities and manipulations at branch and TDC elections.
They have filed complaints with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) and are still awaiting his decision.
Riot, who was said to have been with the G7 initially, turned his back and joined forces with Chin believing that any problems in the party should be settled in the TDC.
His support for Chin, who was elected SUPP president during the TDC which was held from Dec 9 to 11, has irked the Dayak members of the G7.
Among the most vocal are Rayong and Jerip.
Rayong called on the ROS to look into a resolution which confirmed the secretary-general’s post as the most powerful within the party.
He said that such a resolution, if approved by ROS, would deprive a non-Chinese from becoming president of the party, adding out that the Dayak members of the party are unhappy with it.
With that provision which effectively removed Riot from becoming president, Rayong said that Riot’s election as the first Bumiputera deputy president was rather hollow in SUPP.
