by Sebanaku Sarawak
KUCHING: The May 2006 state election had provided Sarawak United People’s Party(SUPP) a good opportunity to reform itself after losing eight seats in the election.
Seven of its seats went to Democratic Action Party (DAP) while one went to an independent candidate.
And there is a strong possibility that – if SUPP could not stop more Chinese from distancing themselves from the party before the election – the party would be losing all of its Chinese-majority seats in the coming state election.
As a matter of fact, its Bumiputera-majority are far from safe mainly due to the fact that the party Bumiputera members are not happy with the party.
They have been sidelined by the party for so long – and may be the time has come for them to teach SUPP a good lesson.
A good lesson that would be a talk of the state for a very long time – i.e. to lose all seats in the coming state election.
Back in 2007-2008, SUPP had a good chance to start afresh from the 2006 election when it had experienced a leadership crisis.
The then party deputy secretary-general Datuk Wong Soon Koh was leading the fraction that wanted to dispose Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam who was the party president.
It was really tense at that time with both fractions were trying to outdo each other.
Members of these fractions had many secret meetings to devise plans that could help them to emerge as winners.
However, in May 2008, there was an anti-climax to the power struggle episode when Datuk Wong Soon Koh and his fraction decided not to pursue their goal to get rid of Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam.
The president had expressed his desire to step down at the party delegates’ conference that year but Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh felt that it was better for Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam to continue to lead the party as the party still needed Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam.
Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam was re-elected as the president.
The party had a damned good chance to reform the party in 2008 but the leaders just wasted it.
In a way, SUPP was lucky because it was given clear signals by the Chinese voters to reform after the 2006 state election.
Unfortunately it decided not to acknowledge these signals as being real.
The leaders were under the impression that the Chinese community was not happy with them mainly due to certain issues which the State Government had failed to address to the satisfactory of the community.
However, only after the Sibu parliamentary by-election the party realizes that the Chinese community just simply abhors them.
They know that they could refute most major allegations using facts but to their dismay, the Chinese community doesn’t want to listen to them.
In the nutshell, presently the Chinese community is actually thinking with their irrational mind.
No matter what they say, the Chinese community doesn’t want to believe them.
No matter what they say, the Chinese community doesn’t want to believe them.
Of course, over the time SUPP believes that it could appeal to the rational mind of the Chinese community as to win back the heart of the community.
However, one thing for sure is the time is not on the party’s side. Or it would suffer the same fate as MCA in peninsular.
Heads have to roll in the party months before the state election or the old Turks have to step down disgracefully weeks after the election.
And again, by now Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam should have read reports from the ground that give their predictions on the possible outcome of the state election.
Interestingly, all of these reports, which are from different sources, are having similar conclusions – i.SUPP is going to be buried alive by the opposition pact.
If the party is more important that any individual, then Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam should know what to do after coming back from oversea.
However, it should be stressed here that even his resignation would automatically help to boost the party’s image.
If the party members choose the wrong person to replace Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam, it would not able to save SUPP from sinking.
Or may be a caliber leader such as the Bukit Assek assemblyman Wong Ho Leng could save SUPP from walking on the path of oblivion.
Isnt it high time for the party to be burried if it does not serve its original purpose of service the people and not individuals.
ReplyDeletePlease people...just don't jump the gun yet....just let the cut healed, only then we work out something, after all it's us who will buried or lengthen their life....
ReplyDeleteHistorically Parti SUPP was goig to create its Chinese popularity and establish Chinese Power in Srawak. This was their aims during the CCO strugles and their idology, even though SUPP become part of Colition Gov. and rule the state they had suceeded in planting their personals in various Departments and establihments. All was done for the Chinese. And they forgot the non Chinese populations that watching them closely on what they are doing these years back. And They had been banging for their right in matters even to the exten of stepping on others, but they pretentded to hide their acts. Like matter related to our Bedayuhs in Bengoh dan around that areas, dominate by SUPP, like Pedawan Municipal Council, Supp never wang to cooperate with the Bidayuh and they still retain their Chine superimasy to put their men become the Chairman of PMC, why can't give to Bidayuh for 1-2 term and regulate the post also with Malays. I think our Cr Hassim Yap is a capabe person for the post, which he had been so many time being acted for.The same to Bidayu. Why Chinese. This had been practised in KMC now MBKS, SMC and MMC. The Malays were being opted for Deputy post. Now the SUPP trying to rebuild their stengh and power which is slowly singking. I do agree to what had been said by friends that SUPP will met the same fate as to had had happend to MCA. As in sarawak SUPP will be buried alive.
ReplyDeleteSince the 1Malaysia Concept voiced by the PM and welcome by all over , mainly by Chinese Communities. This create big question to all why of a sudden the Chinese come to support all out the 1 Malaysia Concept.? They had their own agenda and thus why they all over suppoted it. But they never think that others too supported that concept manay years ago, not now, and the Chinese forgot and they even dare to say that they are those responsible for the Devilopment of this country but they forgot the secrefies of other coummunities.They always play with fire, but until one day they will be burned by fire. Theare arrogen and never satisfy on what they got, and even they want more include that belongs to others.Why they dont see what had happended in Indonesia, Thailand, Mianmar and Vietnam. And who were those boat peoples of viatnam? The boat peoples were the 3rd jeneration of Chinese fled out of that country when those locals attacked them.We pray that will never happen in Malaysia for time being. And we donot know if things goes out of control, who knows in future?
ReplyDeleteSince the SUPP want to go out of BN, let it go out in the cool and then the Chinese had no representation in Gov. Including all the MCs City Councils and Local Gos.They can bluf as what they had been doing in the 60s, but not today, The Bumis can rule this country .The comming State Election is just at the coner, we are all waiting to see, that SUPP will meet the fait of MCA soon.
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