The Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) said today it is prepared to take on the DAP in the by-election for the Pujut state seat.

Its president Dr Sim Kui Hian said Pujut was a seat traditionally allocated to the SUPP as a component of the Sarawak BN.

The seat fell vacant after the Sarawak state assembly disqualified Dr Ting Tiong Choon, the DAP assemblyperson, for his alleged Australian citizenship.

The Election Commission is to meet on Friday to decide on the date of the by-election.

Sarawak DAP chairperson Chong Chieng Jen said earlier today that the party would field a candidate for the by-election.

Sim was asked whether SUPP would allow BN-friendly United People's Party, led by Wong Soon Koh, to contest the seat.

"Pujut is a BN component seat. If UPP wants to contest the seat, the candidate must resign from UPP and join SUPP," he said to reporters at the lobby of the state assembly building.

- Bernama