Dr Sim: SUPP open to any winnable candidate

KUCHING: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party ( SUPP) is ready to accept the membership application of any winnable candidate, be they from Barisan Nasional ( BN) - friendly or opposition political parties.

Its president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said he welcomed them to join SUPP and fight for the party in the next general elections, whether they are from Democratic Action Party ( DAP) or Parti Keadilan Rakyat ( PKR), let alone United People’s Party ( UPP).

“It is not that difficult to fill out the membership application form of SUPP,” he said when met by reporters after launching the ‘Kembara Jiran’ programme here yesterday.

Dr Sim, who is also Local Government and Housing Minister, stressed that “there are only four state BN component parties”, indicating that non-SUPP members wanting to contest in SUPP seats ought to be a member of the party first.

There are 31 parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak, out of which seven are allocated to SUPP – Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Serian, Sibu, Lanang, Sarikei and Miri.

In the 2013 parliamentary election, SUPP won only Serian out of the seven seats it contested.

On a separate issue, Dr Sim said he respected the decision of former SUPP Dudong branch deputy chairman Dato Sri Dr Benny Lee to join UPP, adding he had no right to stop any party leader or member from quitting SUPP.

He said Lee had stood as an Independent candidate in Dudong in the last state election and did not apply to rejoin SUPP after his defeat.

“In Malaysia, any individual has the right to choose the party he or she wants to join. And SUPP’s door is open to individuals who want to join us,” said Dr Sim.

On Saturday, Lee led about 100 supporters to join UPP, which he regarded as an ideal platform to continue his political struggles for the people in Sibu.

In the 2016 state election, direct BN candidate Datuk Tiong Thai King regained Dudong from the opposition after garnering 9,700 votes in a five- cornered fight.