The Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) today declared Peter Chin Fah Kui as its new president, amidst a boycott of the internal election by a rival faction led by Wong Soon Koh.

The latest development is expected to be a major setback for the party which was already badly bruised after heavy defeats suffered in the April state elections.

NONE Wong  ( right ) and his backers are widely expected to form a new party soon, tentatively called the Sarawak Peace Party.

On Thursday, Wong and several other party leaders had urged the central working committee to postpone the polls, scheduled for today, in view of widespread complaints on vote rigging.

This was however brushed aside by the party secretary-general and central election committee, leading to the boycott by Wong's faction.

Yesterday, the party's triennial delegate's conference (TDC) proceeded with only 327 out of 557 party delegates in attendance, which was a major embarrassment for the party.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak who officiated the TDC yesterday, took note of the troubles faced by the party and urged warring leaders to close ranks as the general election was looming.

Polls dampener

The split in SUPP is likely to further sour the party's chances in the next general election, as Wong's faction includes all six of the party's state assemblypersons and a member of Parliament.

The party will be contesting in five Parliamentary constituencies in the upcoming election.

Any split would weaken the party's machinery, or even lead to sabotage, particularly in areas held by the six state assemblypersons.

The split also effectively enhances SUPP's Chinese characteristics. Though the party is essentially Chinese-based, it has a sizeable ethnic Dayak membership.

During the April polls, 12 out of 14 ethnic Chinese candidates fielded by SUPP lost in the polls while all four ethnic Dayak candidates won with convincing majorities.

Given the amount of clout held by Wong's faction, by virtue of having six state assemblypersons and a MP within its ranks, it is likely that BN would be pressured into fielding candidates from this faction in the next general election.

Outgoing party president Dr George Chan said yesterday that should Wong's faction quit the party, they would not be allowed to contest in seven seats which have been allocated to SUPP. Currently, SUPP has five MPs.

Meanwhile, Chin later told reporters that he would be approaching Wong soon in a bid to close ranks.

“What is most important is to ensure that the SUPP remains in BN to further strengthen the coalition at the state and national levels,” said Chin, according to Bernama .

Another notable figure in the new lineup includes Serian MP Richard Riot who was appointed the new deputy president.