SUPP set for sweeping party make over
Ang Ngan TohPublished: May 28, 2011 2:49 AM | Updated: May 28, 2011 7:29 AM
Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), badly bruised in the recent state elections, is to make sweeping changes at all levels, party president Dr George Chan announced after the central working committee meeting yesterday.
Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), badly bruised in the recent state elections, is to make sweeping changes at all levels, party president Dr George Chan announced after the central working committee meeting yesterday.
The move will see the top five leaders giving up their posts at the triennial delegates conference (TDC) scheduled for the end of the year.
They are Dr Chan (left), deputy president Lau Hieng Ding, secretary-general Sim Kheng Hui, deputy secretary-general Wong Soon Koh and treasurer-general David Teng Lung Chi.
"Other party leaders have also indicated to me that they are not going to seek re-election to their party posts," Dr Chan said.
Among them is vice-president and Deputy Works Minister Yong Khoon Seng, who had also indicated that he would not be defending his Stampin parliamentary seat in the coming general elections.
Dr Chan said most branch chairmen will be asked to bow out in favour of new faces and more from that group will be tapped for the Women and Youth wings executive committees.
Old age obstacle to change
"The sweeping changes are to create a new image for the party, especially among the young generation," Dr Chan told reporters.
"You cannot make the changes if I am still around,' he said.
Dr Chan and Sim had offered to resign down immediately after the polls to take responsibility for the party's worst ever performance in such an outing.
However, the CWC, which met after polling day, had asked them to stay on until the TDC.
Wong, who is also the State Minister of Public Health and Environment, had recently offered to quit his party post during the TDC.
He also indicated that he will not be defending his Bawang Assan seat in the next state elections.
Lau, former federal minister of science, technology and environment, has long wanted to step down as deputy president due to poor health.
Dr Chan and Teng failed to retain their respective seats in April while Sim lost his in Pending in the 2006 election.
In that elections, SUPP lost in 13 seats to the Opposition, out of 19 contested.
Dr Chan said that party leaders will be going to the ground, starting in August, to explain the proposed changes to the members.
"There are about 110,000 of them who want to hear from us about the changes," he said, adding that as such the annual central committee meeting scheduled to be held before the TDC will be scrapped.
On Wong's (left) and Lee Khim Sin's positions in the state cabinet, Dr Chan said the CWC had decided unanimously that they should remain.
A flip and a flop
At the previous meeting, the CWC wanted them not accept any state cabinet position in response to the poor support from the Chinese community.
The CWC, however, recommended that the four Dayak state assemblypersons replace them in the state cabinet.
At yesterday's meeting, however, the CWC decided that Wong and Lee be allowed accept cabinet positions.
Dr Chan explained that the two will act as links between the party and the government.
"Moreover, we have accepted the advice of Prime Minister Najib Razak and Chief Minister Taib Mahmud for SUPP to remain part and parcel of the government.
"We have a lot to lose if we are not in the government," he said.
The move will see the top five leaders giving up their posts at the triennial delegates conference (TDC) scheduled for the end of the year.
They are Dr Chan (left), deputy president Lau Hieng Ding, secretary-general Sim Kheng Hui, deputy secretary-general Wong Soon Koh and treasurer-general David Teng Lung Chi."Other party leaders have also indicated to me that they are not going to seek re-election to their party posts," Dr Chan said.
Among them is vice-president and Deputy Works Minister Yong Khoon Seng, who had also indicated that he would not be defending his Stampin parliamentary seat in the coming general elections.
Dr Chan said most branch chairmen will be asked to bow out in favour of new faces and more from that group will be tapped for the Women and Youth wings executive committees.
Old age obstacle to change
"The sweeping changes are to create a new image for the party, especially among the young generation," Dr Chan told reporters.
"You cannot make the changes if I am still around,' he said.
Dr Chan and Sim had offered to resign down immediately after the polls to take responsibility for the party's worst ever performance in such an outing.
However, the CWC, which met after polling day, had asked them to stay on until the TDC.
Wong, who is also the State Minister of Public Health and Environment, had recently offered to quit his party post during the TDC.He also indicated that he will not be defending his Bawang Assan seat in the next state elections.
Lau, former federal minister of science, technology and environment, has long wanted to step down as deputy president due to poor health.
Dr Chan and Teng failed to retain their respective seats in April while Sim lost his in Pending in the 2006 election.
In that elections, SUPP lost in 13 seats to the Opposition, out of 19 contested.
Dr Chan said that party leaders will be going to the ground, starting in August, to explain the proposed changes to the members.
"There are about 110,000 of them who want to hear from us about the changes," he said, adding that as such the annual central committee meeting scheduled to be held before the TDC will be scrapped.
On Wong's (left) and Lee Khim Sin's positions in the state cabinet, Dr Chan said the CWC had decided unanimously that they should remain.A flip and a flop
At the previous meeting, the CWC wanted them not accept any state cabinet position in response to the poor support from the Chinese community.
The CWC, however, recommended that the four Dayak state assemblypersons replace them in the state cabinet.
At yesterday's meeting, however, the CWC decided that Wong and Lee be allowed accept cabinet positions.
Dr Chan explained that the two will act as links between the party and the government.
"Moreover, we have accepted the advice of Prime Minister Najib Razak and Chief Minister Taib Mahmud for SUPP to remain part and parcel of the government.
"We have a lot to lose if we are not in the government," he said.
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