SUPP asks southern Sarawak voters to give them a chance [NSTTV]

KUCHING: Datuk Wee Hong Seng has not had it easy in the 12th Sarawak election.

Apart from facing a tough contest against Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen in Padungan, which is also a DAP stronghold, the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) candidate has also had to grapple with internal issues midway through campaigning, when Kuching SUPP dissolved its election machinery.

The dissolution was done out of protest as SUPP Kuching division chief Datuk Lily Yong claimed that Wee was not among the two names proposed to the party leadership to stand in Padungan.

"Out of the 82 state seats, I think Padungan is witnessing one of the most difficult and interesting fights. I know everyone is watching this seat as I am facing Sarawak DAP's top leader (Chong).

"There are also many challenges, both internal and external, which I have to manage. I don't want to give up, I didn't enter the race to just give up.

"I want the opportunity to serve the people and fight for their interest in (a higher capacity) the Sarawak Legislative Assembly," Wee told reporters at SUPP headquarters.

The Kuching South City Council mayor is among the 24 new faces Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is fielding in the election.

Although this is his first time in an election, Wee is not a "new face" to the local community as he has held various positions, including as president of Sarawak Tourism Federation and a member of the Kuching North City Commission.

He said his manifesto for Padungan was based on his experiences on the ground, meeting the people, and learning about their issues and aspirations.

"It is not my manifesto but the people's manifesto. I hope the people will vote for me as I am able to bring more development," Wee added.

DAP won Padungan in the last state election. However, its assemblyman Wong King Wei quit the party last year, citing disillusionment with DAP's direction and management.

This led Chong to decide against defending the Kota Sentosa seat and threw his hat in the ring in Padungan instead, saying he had to explain to Padungan constituents why Wong had decided to leave the party.

SUPP president Dr Sim Kui Hian was also present at today's press conference together with candidates for southern Sarawak, including Milton Foo (Pending), Sih Hua Tong (Batu Lintang), Wilfred Yap (Kota Sentosa) and Lo Khere Chiang (Batu Kitang).

Foo said he is contesting in Pending for the second time, facing the same opponent – DAP's Violet Yong, who has been the representative for three terms.

However, he said many longstanding issues in the constituency have remained unsolved and no efforts have been made to improve the lives and livelihoods of the people there.

"If she can't serve the people well, then let me do it. I want to rebuild Pending and restore its former glory. I will focus on transforming it into a vibrant business district, offering more jobs and business opportunities for the residents there," he said.

As for opposition leaders and members, Foo said they can always monitor his performances while the voters can judge for themselves in the next five years.

Meanwhile, Sih, who has been beaten twice but considers himself a "defeated assemblyman", was willing to continue to serve and to prove himself.

The 57-year-old, who is contesting in Batu Lintang, is no stranger to the locals as he has been working on the ground actively for more than a decade.

"It has been more than 10 years, I am working on the ground, serving and helping the people (despite not winning). So, I know the people and constituency well.

"They know where to look for me when they need help. I am always there. But, for me to effectively raise and resolve their issues, including the flood problems, I need to represent them in the state assembly," he said.

As the party president who is leading the fight in Chinese-majority seats, Sim said he is appealing to the voters to give his party more opportunities to serve.

"I don't have to talk much as you can see what I have done for Batu Kawah in the last five years. With so many developments, my results speak for themselves.

"So, I hope more constituencies in southern Sarawak, which are mostly DAP strongholds, will give SUPP a chance to make a difference in the next five years," he said.

Sim, who is defending his Batu Kawah seat, urged the voters to judge and vote based on the candidate's performances, track record and character.

"This is a critical time (post Covid-19), hence, we really need to vote for a leader who is sincere and ready to serve, not just empty talk or personal interests. We have no time for that… we need to recover from the pandemic," he stressed.