SUPP reveals nominees for next state election

SUPP reveals nominees for next state election

(From left) Adenan, Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and Dr Sim seen at SUPP’s Chinese New Year Open House today (Feb 8).

KUCHING: SUPP could not have chosen a better time than the first day of the Chinese New Year to announce their list of nominees for the state Barisan Nasional (BN) to consider in the next state polls.
However, SUPP only revealed the 16 Chinese-majority seats they are interested in, while the other four or five Bumiputera or Dayak-majority seats will be announced later.

The party still hasn’t decided on who it will choose to take on DAP in Padungan, rendering the list for the Chinese-majority or urban seats incomplete.

It is likely that party president Senator Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian has to fight it out with party comrades Tan Joo Phoi and Lo Khere Chiang in the new seat of Batu Kitang.

According to the list of nominees, SUPP recommended Milton Foo to contest in Pending while the rest will be standing in Batu Lintang (Sih Hua Tong); Kota Sentosa (Wifred Yap); Repok (Teng Ung Wu); Meradong (Ding Kuong Hiing); Bukit Assek (Chieng Buong Toon); Dudong (Dato Sri Lee Chung Fatt @ Benny); Bawang Assan (Robert Lau Hui Yew); Pelawan (Michael Tiang); Tanjung Batu (Soo Li Ching); Piasau (Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew); Pujut (Adam Yii Siew Sang) and Senadin (Datuk Lee Kim Shin).

In a press statement issued by Dr Sim, SUPP deputy president Dato Sri Richard Riot Jaem will announce the nominees for the five Bumiputera or Dayak-majority seats including one new seat allocated to SUPP under the BN sharing formula.

Dr Sim stated that he was confident that Simanggang incumbent Datuk Francis Harden Hollis will be renominated by BN come nomination day, which has been proposed by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem to be held on March 18.

“As one of the founding members of BN in 1972, SUPP has and will always stay steadfast and loyal to BN principles,” stressed Dr Sim.

“SUPP is fully aware that we have to be strong in order to strengthen the leadership of YAB Adenan Satem and Sarawak BN.

“The fact is no one wants SUPP to win as much as SUPP itself. In this respect, SUPP has identified 21 credible and most winnable candidates for its 21 seats for the next Sarawak election.
“Therefore, SUPP is announcing its candidates for the 16 Chinese majority seats to the Adenan Team within the framework of Sarawak BN,” he pointed out.

In the last state election, SUPP only managed to win in Bawang Assan, Senadin, Engkilili, Bengoh, Simanggang and Opar out of the 19 seats it was allocated.

For the record, Dr Sim, Yap, Tan, Ding, Chieng, Lau and Sih have lost before in both the last state and parliamentary elections.

February 8, 2016, Monday 

reporters@theborneopost.com