It seems that Supp has finally woken up from its slumber, at least on the surface. After having lost seven state seats to the opposition in 2006, the party continued to spiral downwards with a series of serious internal feuds, fought in the public domain.

Feeble attempts were made at best to resolve the infighting and at times, the top party leadership looked lost on what to do.

george chan supp 031106 It is learnt that over the past three months, party president Dr George Chan and his central executive committee (CEC) members had taken pains to resolve long standing problems.

One consensus reached by the CEC was to retain the status quo of the top leadership. So far, only one branch has disagreed with the decision and wanted all key posts to be contested.

However, given the majority decision, it is likely that delegates may accede to the leadership’s decision for the sake of continuity and to maintain party stability. However, anything can still happen on Sunday when the party holds its elections.

But Chan is working overtime to ensure that his party remains stable, at least with what they have at present.

Opening the delegates conference of the Youth and Women's wings in Kuching today, Chan made an impassioned plea to members of the two wings to stop squabbling and backstabbing as they need to unite and prepare for the state election due in 2011.

According to Bernama, the deputy chief minister said the contest for posts in their respective wings, being held today, should be seen as a healthy fight, which should not be prolonged as it would hurt party unity in the long term.

"After the fight, please regroup. Please come together again to win the election as it will not be an easy fight because the whole might of the opposition, especially from the peninsula, will be here," he said.

Sack these members

Chan also warned that members who backstabbed the party and comrades should be sacked.

"We cannot afford to fight among ourselves. We must unite. If we are still divided, we will fall," he pointed out.

sarawak state seat 2006 breakdown 011208 Urging Supp Youth to be an agent of change in the party, Chan said they should come up with new ways to serve the people so that Supp would be respected.

Earlier, when opening the Wanita conference, the party president said its members should use their strengths to face the opposition.

"I hope Wanita members will work together to serve the people and prepare for the state election. Use every bit of your talents to beat the opposition but not your comrades," he said, adding that the contest for positions should not split the movement.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will open the party’s triennial delegates conference at the Supp headquarters in Kuching tomorrow.

This will be Abdullah’s final appearance at the Supp delegates conference as he will be stepping down as prime minister and BN chair in March next year.

Supp has planned an elaborate programme to welcome the premier.