The outspoken Sarawak United People's Party (Supp) Pending branch secretary Lau KimYong again blamed the party's leadership, namely president Dr George Chan, for losing the Bandar Kuching seat in the recent general election.

Since the polls, Lau had been openly critical of the Barisan Nasional (BN) component party's choice of candidate Wee Kok Tiong ( photo ) and certain party policies, which he claimed, had irked the largely Chinese electorate.

The ex-city councillor had made his views known in several public functions over the past few weeks.

A senior Supp leader, who requested anonymity, said he was aware of Lau's outbursts and added that the latter had also been critical of many things during his tenure as a councillor.

He said it was unfair to pin the blame for the defeat solely on the leadership as there could have been external circumstances involved as well.

In the March 11 contest, DAP's Chong Chieng Jen beat Wee with a 2,041 majority after garnering a total of 17,914 votes.

Barisan Nasional director of operations for Bandar Kuching Lily Yong said recently that a written report on the possible factors behind the defeat would be ready before the Supp central working committee meeting scheduled for next month.

Concern in Stampin

In another development, Supp's Batu Lintang state assemblyperson Chan Seng Khai said he would submit a report to the CWC by this month regarding the party's success in retaining the Stampin seat albeit with a reduced majority.

Chan, who is the Batu Lintang branch chairperson and Kuching City South mayor, said he will produce a report covering the Batu Lintang state seat, which falls under the Stampin parliamentary constituency.

He added that a report pertaining to the other state seat under the constituency - Batu Kawa - will be submitted by its chairperson Alfred Yap Chin Loi.

The reports are expected to outline the reasons behind the vote swing in Stampin for the opposition. Incumbent Yong Khoon Seng realised the seat with a 7,731 majority against DAP's Voon Lee Shan.

In the 1999 polls the Supp leader defeated Voon by nearly 9,000 votes.

As the state election must be held in the next two years, Chan said the party was naturally worried with the outcome in Stampin.

"We have to find out (the factors behind the reduced majority) and we have to work extra hard," added the Supp leader.