Having chosen to remain within the BN, the embattled Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP) must re-invent itself with new ideas and input to stay relevant, said Abang Johari Openg.

NONE The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy president said the same policy also applied to other state BN component parties, including PBB.

PBB saw over 20 percent changes in its party candidates at every election, by injecting young people, together with experienced and able leaders, to lead the backbone of the state BN coalition, he noted.

"In this case, I feel SUPP is undergoing that process of adjustment and their leaders will have to gauge for themselves what sort of changes they must make within the party, as well as to look at their own weaknesses," Abang Johari, who is also state housing and urban development minister.

He was speaking to reporters after presenting Hari Raya gifts to 59 Muslim families at the Hung Nam Siang T'ng Home in Kuching today.

Changing environment

Likewise, he said, PBB, which had a long history with SUPP, was trying very hard to adjust to the changing environment by fielding new faces, especially women candidates, with the right experience and academic qualification to be able to tackle the current problems through technology and scientific means.

Actually, SUPP has been PBB's partner since 1970 when Sarawak was the first coalition government, prior to BN's formation but the partnership must be sustained, he said.

He said SUPP should give space for the younger generation to express themselves, besides reflecting on the strength of the opposition DAP which might have appealed more to the young.

SUPP lost Sibu, which was once regarded its stronghold, to DAP during the recent parliamentary by-election, besides faring badly in the 2006 state election when it lost eight of the 19 seats contested, including six to DAP.

Despite rumours that SUPP wanted to leave BN, following comments by SUPP grassroots members pertaining to issues faced by the Chinese community in Sarawak, Abang Johari said he enjoyed close relationship with his SUPP colleagues in the state cabinet.

[More to follow]