The Sibu Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) branch chairperson, Wong Soon Koh, said today he has identified the potential candidates for the Sibu parliamentary seat and the adjacent Lanang seat for the coming 13th general election.

He added that there was still ample time to submit the names either to the SUPP leadership, the state Barisan Nasional (BN) or the central BN before the deadline on April 30.

“As a leader in charge of Sibu and Lanang, I will only announce the list of candidates when the time comes; we'll cross the bridge when we come to it,” he told reporters after attending the handing over of assistance to 82 cancer and kidney patients at Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching today.

Asked whether he would submit the names directly to the chief minister or prime minister, Wong said, “It will be done based on the spirit of BN. What is important is to focus on the election.”

SUPP will contest in seven predominantly-Chinese seats in the election, namely Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Serian, Sarikei, Sibu, Lanang and Miri.

Last Sunday, SUPP president Peter Chin Fah Kui said the party would retain the incumbents in Serian and Sarikei and field a new face in Bandar Kuching.

They are Richard Riot (Serian), Ding Kuong Hiing (Sarikei) and the party’s youth chief Tan Kai in Bandar Kuching.

The candidates for Sibu, Lanang, Miri and Stampin would be decided at the latest by April 30.

- Bernama