Can SUPP rise to the challenge?

In an apparent reference to party strongman Wong, Najib, in his speech said he would like SUPP to “play your part”.

 

Agreeing with the views of Pehin Sri (Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud), Najib said SUPP must be united, “you must set aside some of your personal differences, and become one unit. Only with the unity of SUPP, can you command the support and respect of the Chinese community.”

 

He then exhorted the party to prove it can be strong once more.

 

“SUPP must rise to the challenge. SUPP must be the party of choice for the Chinese community, that is what we hope and that is what Pehin Sri hopes as well,” said Najib, who celebrated the joyous occasion for the first time with some 10,000 people in Kuching.

 

Despite Najib’s clarion call, can the reconciliation of the different factions in SUPP help the party rise up to the challenge? Can SUPP once again be a force in Sarawak politics?

 

 

Briefly, the internal tussles within SUPP, Sarawak United People’s Party – the oldest political party in Sarawak – began seven years ago after the party’s dismal performance in the 2006 state election. It was between the then president Tan Sri George Chan and Wong, who was the deputy secretary-general at that time.

 

In the last party election in 2011, Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui was elected as the new president, after Wong and his group staged a walkout.

 

Wong and his group, who comprise the majority of SUPP’s elected representatives, claim that Chin’s election and that of his office bearers was not valid because of irregularities during the branch elections. He has since refused to work with the new president.

 

The quarrel between Wong and Chin is also being perceived as a tug-of-war between the state BN leadership and its Federal counterpart.

 

Chin is the federal Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister, while Wong is the Minister of Local Government and Community Development, the only full minister from SUPP in the state cabinet.

 

Chan, who is now the party’s advisor, was present at the Chap Goh Mei dinner. As noted by a veteran journalist, it would have been news if Wong Soon Koh was present.

 

 

During the dinner, both Taib and Najib appeared very much in sync, both in their attire (they were wearing identical red colour Chinese shirts) and in their message.

 

Taib asked the people to give a stronger mandate to Najib, like in 2008, or greater.

 

Najib, in return, said BN would work with closely with Sarawak BN under the leadership of Taib to ensure Sarawakians can enjoy a brighter future.

 

After tossing the yee sang, Najib immediately served the colourful dish to Taib, who was sitting on his right, while his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor simultaneously served Taib’s wife Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi.

 

Mindful political observers had not forgotten that less than two years ago before the state election in April 2011, Najib had announced a succession plan for Taib – a move that was widely believed orchestrated to get the support of the Chinese.

 

This was due to the community’s strong negative sentiment against the longest-serving chief minister and the corruption allegations that have dogged him.

 

However, the announced succession plan – which Taib refused to acknowledge – did little to win over the Chinese electorate.

 

In the 2011 elections, SUPP suffered a big blow, losing 13 of the 19 seats they contested in to DAP and PKR. Many senior politicians lost to DAP’s new faces, including the then deputy chief minister Chan.

 

All the election promises, grand development and economic transformation plans, as well as concerts with free Tupperware, lucky draws, free 1Malaysia goodies and many others that were generously given out during the campaign period did little to win over Chinese support.

 

This time around, BN has changed tact.

 

Read more at: http://fz.com/content/can-supp-rise-challenge