MIRI – A Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) component party is shocked that its traditional seat has been given to another party to contest come the December 18 polls.
Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) leaders have expressed shock that its traditional state seat of Dudong in Sibu has been given to another GPS component – Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
SUPP president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, in a press conference in Kuching today, said his fellow party leaders are not only shocked but disappointed and angry.
“SUPP has in the past been allotted constituencies that are traditionally ours, where we have a strong presence. Dudong is one such seat.
“However, yesterday, when GPS (chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg) announced the candidates, we in SUPP were shocked that a certain seat was not given to us.
It was given to another GPS party. We in SUPP are disappointed and angry that this has happened like this. In politics, there are those who will hit below the belt.
“Nonetheless, any final decision made by GPS, we in SUPP must support in the interest of the coalition.
“I urge our members in the places where we are not nominated to continue to support GPS.”
Aside from SUPP and PDP, the other GPS components are Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak.
Abang Johari, who is also PBB president, yesterday named PDP president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing as the GPS candidate for Dudong.
Sim then said SUPP members in Dudong must continue to be loyal to GPS.
“We Chinese cannot afford to lose faith in GPS. We need to go all out to help GPS return to serve as the next state government.”
SUPP will launch its manifesto on December 8, he said.
Previously, GPS won 68 of the 82 state seats.
Sarawak heads to the polls on December 18, with nomination day falling on December 6 and early voting on December 14. – The Vibes, December 4, 2021
