The current Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) leadership, including its president Dr George Chan Hong Nam, has been asked to resign en bloc to give way to a new crop of leaders to pull the party out from its worst crisis since its formation.

In a interview published in a Sarawak daily, former SUPP president Dr Wong Soon Kai said that the party’s present leaders must also convene a triennial delegates conference (TDC) as soon as possible to elect new leaders.

“The party should act immediately as it is a matter of life and death for the party. There is no reason for the present leaders to hang on (to their party posts) and fight for empty seats among themselves.

“To save the party, they must think what is best for the party instead of fighting among themselves for the top party posts,” he said in a interview that was published by The Borneo Post today.

Wong also said that SUPP, which was established in 1959, was badly routed in the April 16 state election because young voters had become more aware of current issues and their eagerness for change.

        

SUPP, the second largest Barisan Nasional (BN) component party in Sarawak after Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), lost 13 out of the 19 seats it contested, the worst ever performance in the party’s 52-year history.

“In the olden days, all Chinese associations, including the various clans and Chinese schools used to rally behind SUPP. Now it’s no longer the case.

‘Reach out to grassroots leaders’

“So to revive the party, SUPP leaders should use all means including reaching out to the grassroots leaders to get the best solution to save the party before it’s too late,” said Wong.

However, Wong in the interview side-stepped from answering a question on who should lead the party if the current leader stepped down, except for saying it could not be him as he was no longer in the party, having left in 1996.

Wong, 83, a medical specialist by profession, was a former Sarawak deputy chief minister and served as SUPP president from 1990 to 1996. He resigned as party president after being defeated by DAP candidate Wong Ho Leng, who is  currently the Sarawak DAP chairman, for the Bukit Assek state constituency in the 1996 state polls.

    

bn candidates announcement pbb hq 030411 george chan The defeat of Wong, once considered one of the most illustrious politicians in Sarawak in his hometown caused a major blow to the party and eventually brought an abrupt end to his political career.

Chan ( left ), who took over from Wong as party president and was also a deputy chief minister, was defeated by DAP newcomer Ling Sie Kiong, a 28-year-old lawyer, the in Piasau state consituency in the recently concluded state election.

Following the defeat, Chan tendered his resignation but was asked by the party’s central working committee (CWC) to stay put until the end of this year when the party is scheduled to hold an election to elect a new office-bearers.

- Bernama