A storm is brewing in SUPP, with the party insisting that it had not recommended Bawang Assam assemblyperson Wong Soon Koh for a post in the Sarawak cabinet.

In a one-page statement, NONE the central secretariat said Wong’s (right) acceptance of a state minister’s post was strictly a personal decision.

The statement was issued today in response to numerous queries from the party’s branches in the state.

SUPP acknowledged that it had failed to obtain a mandate from the Chinese community during the election concluded on Saturday, and that bumiputera support for BN had increased.

As such, it had recommended that more bumiputera representatives be appointed as ministers and assistant ministers in the state cabinet.

NONE Party president Dr George Chan (left) had conveyed the decision to the state BN leadership under Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, it said.

SUPP suffered its biggest loss to date in the election, being thrashed in 13 of the 19 seats it contested. Twelve of the seats went to the DAP, while PKR took the other one.

The party is now left with two Chinese assemblypersons - Wong and Lee Kim Shin (Senadin) - and four Dayak representatives. They are Francis Harden (Simanggang), Dr Jerip Susil (Bengoh), Ranum Mina (Opar) and Johnical Rayong (Engkilili).

Sin Chew Daily reported that Wong’s acceptance of the cabinet minster’s post had caused a furore among SUPP leaders who have demanded his resignation from the party.

MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek had earlier said that Chinese assemblypersons in SUPP should stay out of the state cabinet, since Chinese voters had rejected the party. He said this would prove that the representatives are not hungry for government posts.

Infighting expected

The issue could re-ignite the factional fight between Wong, who leads the Sibu branch, and Chan who is based in Miri.

NONE After Chan was defeated by DAP rookie Ling Sie Kiong (left) in Piasau, he immediately announced his decision to quite politics.

Wong, who narrowly overcame DAP opponent Alicia Chia with bumiputera support, has indicated that he is willing to helm SUPP.

At an emergency meeting yesterday, the SUPP central working committee (CWC) had rejected the resignation letters submitted by Chan and secretary-general Sim Kheng Hui, who took full responsibility for the party's poor electoral performance.

The CWC resolved that Chan and Sim should remain in the party until their term expires and the triennial party conference is held at the end of this year.