Sarawak United People's Party (Supp) deputy president Law Hieng Ding stressed today that it was his duty to correct the wrongs in the party that has been badly tarnished in recent years.

"As deputy president of the party, I'd be failing in my responsibility if I do not do anything to right the wrongs in the party and help to secure its rightful place in society - as a much respected, revered and caring party ever-ready to serve the interests of Sarawak and its peoples," he said.

Law told a media conference in Kuala Lumpur this morning that the predominantly Chinese Supp has to be reformed and revitalised before it is too late.

"The cries among party members are loud and clear. They are many who are looking up to me to make that move for the sake of the party," he said.

Earlier, Law refuted a newspaper report that he had proposed a vote of no-confidence against party president Dr George Chan last week because he was bitter at not being re-appointed a federal minister after the 2004 general election.

He pointed out that "the issue has long been forgotten and almost three years into my retirement, I am enjoying it more than ever, especially being able to spend more quality time now with my family and grandchildren."

"What is happening in Supp today is principally due to the poor and bad leadership that has engulfed the party in recent years. Those who love Supp and want to see it continue to play a strategic role in the political development of Sarawak are now sending a strong wake-up call to the party leadership.

"That message they want to deliver is a simple one, 'Enough is enough! The party is going down the drain. People are losing confidence in the party. Supp needs a new image and a new leadership to bring it back to its glorious days and to greater heights in the future.'

"And this is what I am doing, if it is the last thing I will do for the party," Law said.

Proposed no-confidence motion

He explained that his motion of no confidence against the party president last Thursday in Kuching was the most effective way to 'clean up the mess' in the party and to create a new, wholesome image for Supp.

The motion was disallowed by the party leader.

"For too long now, the party president has lost control of the party, so much so that he had to turn to making empty promises to party leaders and attempt to split local branches on the ground in order to divide and rule.

"Two glaring examples are the nomination of the party candidate for the Meradong state constituency in the May state polls this year and the party losing the Kuching City South Mayor's post," he said.

Elaborating, Law explained that he had sent in a list of nine qualified party grassroots leaders from Meradong as potential candidates but none was chosen.

"What is worse is that the branch was not informed of this until the last minute when they sent a 'parachute' candidate out of nowhere. It was not surprising then that Supp lost the Meradong seat."

He said that the party president's handling of the Kuching South Mayor's post has also caused much bickering and division in Kuching Supp.

"This should never have happened at all," he said.

Supp made a disastrous outing in the last state election last May when it lost eight seats to the opposition out of 19 seats it contested - six to DAP, one to PKR and one to Snap. It was one of the worst electoral results for the 47-year-old party.

The party also lost the Kuching South Mayor post - one of the two mayoral positions in Kuching - after a civil servant was appointed by the chief minister in place of a Supp candidate.

Since then, there has been growing criticism that party leader Chan was too close to Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud - the Supp leader's daughter is married to Taib's son.

Not mounting a leadership challenge

Law also reiterated that he has no intention whatsoever to mount a challenge for the party presidency.

"In fact, I am even ready to step down as deputy president to enable a new team of younger leaders to take over."

Law had earlier argued that had his no-confidence motion was carried, both Chan and himself would quit their party posts.

Stressing that Supp has to be reformed and revitalised before it is too late, Law also said the cries among party members are loud and clear and there are many who are looking up to him to make that move for the sake of the party.

"I have been a member of SUPP for 42 years since 1964. It is the only party I know. The founders of the party, many of whom I have the privilege to work with, had built SUPP with their blood, sweat and tears.

"And this is what I am doing, if it is the last thing I will do for the party. Ultimately, the party president, myself or other party leaders are not important. The party SUPP is paramount," Law added.

Chan to respond later

Meanwhile, Chan was quoted in Bernama as saying late last night that he would reply to the allegations made against him by Law at an appropriate time.

He said that his main concern at the moment was to unite the party members rather than to spare thoughts on personal issues raised by his deputy.

"I will do a prepared statement so that it would not be misunderstood... to reply to whatever things that have been said (by Law) at the right time and opportunity," he said.

He was talking to the media after chairing a three-hour special meeting of Supp Miri branch last night.