PETRA JAYA: United People’s Party (UPP) will leave it to Barisan Nasional's (BN) top leadership to decide on the candidate for the Pujut state seat.
Its chairman Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh said it was too premature to comment on the matter since the Election Commission (EC) will only be making an official announcement on the Pujut by-election on Friday.
Wong, who is the State International Trade and E-Commerce Minister, however, hoped that the BN leadership would stick to the seat distribution formula used during last year’s state polls.
“We hope UPP would be given the opportunity to stand again at the Pujut state seat.
“The party, however, will leave the matter Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Abang Openg (Sarawak BN chairman) and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (BN chairman) to have the final say.
“No matter what happens, BN must wrest back the seat,” he said.
When asked to comment on the status of UPP, which is not a BN component party, Wong said, the issue should not arise.
“We can still stand as BN direct candidate. We should not argue about who to contest openly now,” he added.
UPP is the splinter party of Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP).
Meanwhile, BN direct candidate for Pujut in the last state polls Datuk Hii King Chieng who was also present at Wong’s office, refused to comment on the disqualification of Dr Ting Tiong Choon.
“I’m here to have lunch and I did not expect to see the media,” he said.
The 60-year-old businessman also refused to divulge if he will be interested to stand as BN direct candidate for the by-election.