The Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) has announced its opposition to Bersatu’s entry into Sarawak.

In a strongly worded statement, its president Dr Sim Kui Hian said Bersatu is practising Umno-style racial politics, and that Sarawakians would “never endorse” such a move.

“The political party headed by Dr Mahathir Mohamad, namely Bersatu, plans to come to Sarawak.

“It reflects the political encroachment and a planned erosion of the rights of Sarawak by Malaya-based political parties after the 14th general election,” his statement read.

“The majority of the leaders of Bersatu are former Umno leaders (and) it is a racial political party caring for the interests of a single race, full (of) Umno’s racialism and colour.

“The coming of Bersatu shall deter the racial harmony long enjoy by the peoples in Sarawak. The people in Sarawak will never endorse the coming of Bersatu,” he added.

Yesterday, Prime Minister and Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir said his party had plans to expand into Sarawak.

“We might go into Sarawak. We have yet to decide, but we were thinking because the other Pakatan Harapan parties are already in Sarawak, but we are not,” he told a press conference.

Harapan component parties PKR, DAP and Amanah all have branches in the East Malaysian state.

DAP complicit

Sim also chastised Harapan component parties, particularly DAP, for not standing in the way of Bersatu’s move.

Thus, he said, means they are equally complicit in “betraying the rights” of Sarawakians.

“When BN was in power, Sarawak was able to stop the coming of Umno. But now, Harapan leaders like (DAP Stampin MP) Chong Chieng Jen and (PKR Selangau MP) Baru Bian, can they stop the coming of Bersatu to Sarawak?

“Do they dare to tell Mahathir that Sarawak does not want Bersatu?

“If they dare not and cannot stop the coming of Bersatu, it would mean that they are weak, incapable and powerless,” he said.

Sim lost the Stampin seat to Chong in the May 9 polls.

In his statement, he also cautioned Sarawakians against allowing peninsula-based parties into the state.

“Sarawakians must be fully alert against the attempt of Malaya-based political parties which are trying to encroach the resources of Sarawak, and to control Sarawak.

“What would be the result of such an attempt and conspiracy? Sabah is the lesson,” he warned, referring to Umno’s presence in the state.

Following BN’s loss the GE14, SUPP was one of the four parties that left the coalition to form Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

GPS, which presently holds the state government, previously agreed to “cooperate and collaborate” with the federal Harapan government.