The post-mortem report on the defeat of Sarawak United People's Party (Supp) in the Bandar Kuching parliamentary seat is expected to be ready soon.

The report is being compiled by Barisan Nasional (BN) Bandar Kuching director Lily Yong, who is also Supp Kuching branch chairperson and Pandungan state assemblyperson.

Yong told malaysiakini that her report required some finishing touches and should be completed in two weeks.

Bandar Kuching was the only defeat for Supp in the 11th general election. The party won the remaining six parliamentary seats it contested.

Its candidate Wee Kok Tiong lost to DAP's Chong Chieng Jen (photo right) by slightly more than 2,000 votes, reflecting a massive swing of Chinese votes for the opposition.

Asked if anyone was being blamed for Supp's failure in retaining the seat, Yong replied: "We should ask ourselves and not blame others."

There is talk that Yong is trying to deflect the criticism leveled at her over the loss, with some even accusing her of secretly campaigning against Wee. A charge which she has vehemently denied.

The party's only woman elected representative is also unperturbed by the fact that her state seat falls under the Bandar Kuching parliamentary constituency.

"I am aware that those who voted for me (in the last state elections) voted for the opposition in the just-concluded parliamentary elections," she said.

Weak 'Kuching group'

The Sarawak state election is not due till 2006 but the ruling government could call for the polls earlier.

All but one of the 62 members in the state legislative assembly are from BN. The lone opposition member is state DAP deputy chief Chiew Chin Sing.

Following the exit of former MP and state assembly speaker Song Swee Guan (photo left) from politics last year, the Supp's 'Kuching group' comprising four state assemblypersons Alfred Yap, Sim Kheng Hui, Chan Seng Khai and Yong as well as Stampin MP Yong Khoon Seng appear to be less cohesive and articulative.

Sim is the party's secretary-general and assistant state minister while Yap, who is Batu Kawah branch chairperson, is also an assistant state minister. Chan is mayor of Kuching City South and Khoon Seng is the Works Ministry parliamentary secretary.

Unlike the party's 'Sibu group' which together with Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) Nangka state assemblyperson Awang Bemee have formed what is known as the Sibu Visionary Team overseeing much of the the physical development and progress of Sibu, the Kuching group is seen to be more dependent on the top party leadership for direction.

Compared with the Sibu and Miri and even Sarikei groups, the Kuching group is seen as the least influential.

This is perhaps why Supp president Dr George Chan, who is one of Sarawak's two deputy chief ministers, asked for an additional full state minister post to bring the total to three, to possibly accommodate Kuching.

Full minister's post

Chan is from Miri and the second cabinet minister is Wong Soon Koh from Sibu. But it is not known whether the outcome of the Bandar Kuching election has changed all this or not.

If Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud does agree to SUPP's request, the next question is who will be appointed a full minister from Kuching.

Two names frequently mentioned are Sim and Yap. If either one is promoted there will be a vacancy for an assistant minister, and this may go to the Bidayuh medical practitioner Dr Jerip Susil, the party's elected representative for Bengoh.

But there is little secret that the ambitious Lily Yong is also interested. Her close links with the top leadership and state leadership could give her the edge in the race for the assistant minister's post.

Apart from the above choices, Senadin state assemblyperson in Miri Lee Khim Shin has also been waiting on the wings for some time.

All the maneuvering within the party's 'Kuching group' seem to indicate a strong desire among certain personalities to push themselves forward ahead of the proposed state cabinet reshuffle that is expected within the next three months.