THE Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) and Sarawak United Peoples Party (SUPP) have begun openly fighting to field candidates for state constituencies in Sibu for the next state election though the Sarawak polls are still two years away.
The past two days have seen top leaders of the two Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalitions openly bickering over the state seats in Sibu.
The Sibu constituencies of Bawang Assan, Dudong and Bukit Assek are Chinese-majority seats considered as "hot seats" where SUPP has traditionally fielded its candidates.
However, PDP president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing is now the incumbent assemblyman for Dudong while PDP senior vice president Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh is incumbent assemblyman for Bawang Assan.
SUPP president Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian yesterday said during an event in Sibu that SUPP have better qualified candidates for Sibu for the next state election.
"We have identified very capable candidates who are young and hardworking for Sibu seats.
"SUPP will contest in these Sibu seats," he said.
Wong today reacted furiously and told reporters in Sibu that Dr Sim should "shut up".
"It is not for him to decide which party will get the seats.
"The final decision will be made by the GPS chairman (premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg).
"Who is he to start naming candidates? The next state election is still two years away at least. He should shut up now before the situation boils over," Wong said.
Wong said that as the incumbent assemblyman in Bawang Assan, he had served the constituents well.
Wong was president of Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) but he joined PDP after PSB dissolved.
PDP also absorbed the other former PSB assemblymen (Baru Bian of Bakelalan and Johnical Rayong of Engkilili) along with 80,000 over members.
PDP appointed Wong as senior vice president immediately after he joined PDP.
Wong and Dr Sim were once colleagues in SUPP during the 1980s and 1990s and early 2000s.
Wong had major internal leadership disputes with the SUPP president at that time, Tan Sri Dr George Chan, that lasted till 2011.
After the 2011 state elections, Wong and his supporters broke away from SUPP and formed PSB. Till today, Wong and the current set of SUPP leaders are still on loggerheads over several issues pertaining to Sibu. – The Vibes, May 28, 2024.
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