Sunday, November 7, 2010

SUPP might consider accepting Sng — Dr Chan

Posted on November 7, 2010, Sunday

MIRI: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan hinted that the party would consider admitting partyless Pelagus assemblyman Larry Sng if he is accepted by the people.

Dr Chan said any decision on the matter depended on the support of the people and could not be done by him or the party leadership alone.

“If I accept him, it does not mean that the people would accept (him). I want people who are accepted by the people on the ground,” Dr Chan disclosed this to reporters after the presentation of education aid from Miri Chinese Charitable Trust Board to 200 students yesterday.

Dr Chan was asked for comment on the possibility of Sng (who was sacked in April 2008 from Parti Rakyat Sarawak — PRS) joining SUPP as he is still partyless.

He said: “We are not so exclusive where nobody else can get in. This is why I keep on saying that the party wants to open our door to anybody who wants to join us to promote or help us to serve the people.”

Dr Chan who is also deputy chief minister wants SUPP to be open as possible.

“I do not want any branches to be exclusive. We are not exclusive type and we should never be.”

He reiterated that SUPP should go back to its roots as the people’s party.

The party should go down to the people and get their support.

“We must get the people’s support and not just the support of a few groups.”

The party must be open and inclusive of anybody and getting as many people to join as possible. However, Dr Chan admitted that it was not easy to find people as politics require a lot of sacrifices.

“To be a good politician is very difficult. So if you have the right people with right attitude…we would welcome them with open arms.”

Dr Chan said an election was not about the leader of the party or the choice of the Central Working Committee.

“It is the people who decide. So if you want to win in an election, you have to choose someone who fulfils that sort of criteria. They are the people’s choice.”

According to Dr Chan this would be the practice of the party.

SUPP will be going down to the ground and find out from the people who they think are the best to represent them.

If the choices are not party members, they would be the best, but they should subscribe to the party’s struggle.

“In the event that we cannot find the candidates, then we get people from outside. However, the priority must be our own people.”

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud on Friday night sent a cue, apparently directed at SUPP, to bring in capable people to be their candidates in the next state election.

“(Even) if they are not party members, as long as they support the government, as long as they got something to contribute, bring them in, get them to be candidates,” Taib said at the dinner.

Earlier on, Dr Chan advised the students not only to master Mandarin but also English and Malay so as to be useful in future.

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