The move by two Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) branches to name candidates for the Padawan Municipal Council chairperson's post has irked party president Dr George Chan.

The post felt vacant following the demise of Lawrence Th'ng, who perished with six others in a helicopter crash on July 12.

Barely a week after his remains were laid to rest, SUPP Bata Kawah branch held a special meeting and publicly nominated Tan Joo Phoi for the post.

Following this, the Bengoh branch also went public with their choice, Liu Thian Leong, from Siburan New Village.

Batu Kawah and Bengoh fall under the Padawan area. The other branches under the area are Batu Lintang and Tarat.

Proper channel

Chan grew visibly upset when asked for his comments on the issue yesterday.

The SUPP president said he has not encouraged anyone interested in a public post to lobby for it through the media.

"It is not the proper way to do it," he stressed, adding that those interested should inform the party leaders through the proper channel.

He was referring to the press conference called by Batu Kawah branch chairperson Yap Chin Loi to name the candidate of their choice.

According to informed sources, Yap, a state assistant minister, decided to make public the branch's choice immediately after its meeting due to several reasons.

Among them, is to attract the attention of the party top leadership regarding their choice.

Another possible reason is that Yap could have deliberately done it to display his displeasure of not being made a full minister in the recent state cabinet reshuffle.

'Why the fuss?'

Meanwhile, SUPP vice-president Yong Khoon Seng said he does not understand why Chan was blowing the issue out of proportion.

"I can't see any reason for the fuss. The post has to be filled anyway. Let the branches concerned meet and make their recommendations. It's healthy for the growth of democracy," he added.

Yong is one of Chan's detractors in SUPP and he made his feelings known after the last general election when he was not recommended for a federal deputy minister post.

He is currently the Works Ministry parliamentary secretary.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini 's Sarawak-based stringer.