Peter Chin Fah Kui, who is eyeing to become Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president in the coming Triennial Delegates Conference (TDC) next month, has unveiled his manifesto.

Compiled into booklets, the ‘SUPP Transformation Plan’ will be distributed to the party’s grassroots leaders to strengthen its political standing, and financial and administration aspects.

The four-day conference begins Dec 8.

In a simple ceremony today, Chin, who is also Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister and Miri member of parliament, said the seven-point transformation plan spelt out in the booklet was not a complete plan.

Hopefully, he said, it would be a guide to SUPP members to pick the new leadership at the delegates conference.

Admitting that SUPP was now “weak” and “marginalised” politically, Chin who is its organising secretary, said the booklets contained, among others, the party’s new direction and wanted the members, including bumiputera members, to give their input on strategy to rejuvenate the party.

“The party is losing relevance among urban voters and almost marginalised,” he said, adding that the 2006 and 2011 state elections which saw the party lose many state seats, had proven that it needed to find new ground and fresh direction.

The eight-page booklet (four pages each in English and Mandarin) contains seven proposals to transform the party in the following areas:

  • party interest is paramount;
  • institutionalising change by amending party constitution;
  • speak without fear or favour;
  • groom new leadership;
  • eradicate unhealthy practice;
  • safeguard the party's financial independence; and,
  • people first, perfomance now.       
Among the proposals are the setting up of a trust company or foundation to support party-organised activities; targetting three years to groom new and young leaders in the party, allowing delegates to directly elect the party president and assist those affected by the high cost of living by persuading the state goverment to alienate land for small and medium-scale entrepreneurs, as well as improving recruitment and delivery of civil service.

Among party leaders present at the launch were Youth chief Sih Hua Tong, secretary-general Datuk Sim Kheng Hui, treasurer Datuk David Teng, vice-president Lily Yong, publicity and information secretary Alfred Yap and SUPP Pujut branch chairman Andy Chia.

‘Compromise not dismissed’

At a media conference later, Chin did not dismiss the possibility of a compromise to avoid any tension in the run-up to the party's top leadership election as he described his opponent, state Local Government and Community Development Minister and Bawang Assan state assemblyperson Woon Soon Koh as a good friend.

SUPP president Dr George Chan Hong Nam, who was defeated by DAP candidate Ling Sie Kiong for the Piasau seat in the April state election, had indicated he would step down at the coming delegates conference.

SUPP, one of four Barisan Nasional component parties in Sarawak, fared badly in the last state election where it lost in 13 of 19 seats it contested, leading to calls for a new leadership to steer the party.

- Bernama