Sarawak United People's Party (Supp) chairperson Dr George Chan ( photo ) lost his cool and surprised a group of pressmen in Kuching today with his reaction to a reporter's question on criticisms against the party's top leadership for the loss of Bandar Kuching in last month's elections.

Chan, who is also deputy chief minister and minister of finance and public utilities, was speaking to media members after presenting a letter of appointment to a new Kuching Chinese temenggong (community headman). He had probably not anticipated any question on the criticisms which were widely reported in the Chinese press.

Supp lost Bandar Kuching to the DAP, the only parliamentary seat (out of 28) the BN failed to retain in Sarawak.

"You're making too many assumptions," he told the reporter from the national newspaper.

Then pointing at the reporter, he lashed out, "I will go after you if there is a split in the party."

Other journalists present appeared shocked at the outburst, but the reporter concerned smiled, and even asked Chan "... to calm down and keep cool."

The reporter said the Supp boss later asked him to name those amongst the party's leaders in Kuching who had been critical. "I will tell you in due course," the reporter replied.

As Chan was talking to the press, Supp secretary-general Sim Kheng Hui walked past, and Chan beckoned to him to stop. He then asked Sim, "Who are those in the Kuching group critical of the party leadership?"

According to some journalists present, either Sim did not hear the question or chose not to hear it. He did not respond.

Highlands meeting

Lau Kim Yong, the man who publicly criticised the Supp leadership for the electoral defeat is secretary of the Supp Pending branch headed by Sim, a state assistant minister.

Lau was also among three names considered by Supp as its Bandar Kuching candidate but was not selected.

Chan's preference was businessman Wee Kok Tiong, 42. Wee lost to DAP's Chong Chieng Jen ( photo ), a 32-year-old lawyer.

Meanwhile, Supp state assemblyperson for Padungan Lily Yong was quoted by local Chinese newspapers today as saying that certain Supp party leaders had lost touch with the grassroots.

Without naming names, she said these leaders also had the propensity "to report only good things to the top leadership and prefer to keep quiet about the unpleasantries."

This is interpreted by some political analysts to mean that the party's top leadership themselves were unaware of the problems on the ground.

Malaysiakini

learnt that a group of senior party leaders, led by Chan, met on Sunday evening at the Penrissen Highland Resort to hear each other out and discuss possible changes within the party including its leadership set-up and government appointments.

This is believed to be a stock-taking exercise to better prepare the party, the second largest in the state's four-member ruling coalition, for the state elections in two years time.