KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) is inviting ex-members to return to the party and win stronger support from the Chinese community.
Party president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said the door was always open to ex-members and new members to join the party.
“I have repeatedly said that I’m inviting those who left us (SUPP) to come back for a stronger Sarawak. I am sincere in inviting them,” he said yesterday.
“Besides, this is also the hope of the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Razak) and Chief Minister (Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Abang Openg),”
On Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi called on SUPP and its splinter party, United People’s Party (UPP), to work together to regain support from the state’s Chinese community ahead of the 14th General Election.
UPP president Datuk Seri Dr Wong Soon Koh said the two parties were holding discussions.
“We are trying to work things out. As we were sacked from SUPP, it involves technicalities,” he said.
“But, as far as UPP is concerned, we are expecting a positive outcome (from our discussion),” said the Bawang Assan assemblyman.
Wong and three other SUPP leaders left the party in 2014, following a leadership dispute. They then formed UPP.
They had contested as BN-direct candidates in the last state election in 2016, as the party was not officially accepted into Barisan Nasional’s fold.
However, SUPP is strongly opposed to the idea of having BN-direct candidates in GE14, so it is inviting the ex-members to work with it.