The spirit of the young new members and die-hard supporters of Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) will spur the party to bounce back from the setback it suffered during the last state election, SUPP's former president Dr George Chan said in Kuching today.

He said there was no reason for the SUPP to be not able to win in the 13th general election if they could pull in all the support from the younger group in the community and instill the spirit that the struggle of the party would continue to be relevant to them.

"We have gone through the ups and downs, and now, if all the young people can get together, there is no reason why we cannot win, " he told reporters when met at the SUPP's Chinese New Year open house at the party's headquarters in Kuching.

NONE On purported splits among SUPP leaders, Dr Chan said differences of opinion was a normal thing in any political party and had occurred in other BN component parties as well.

"This is just temporary. When the time comes, they will come back (together) again for the betterment of the party. They will bounce back. I am quite sure that I will still live to see them come back again," he said.

Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negeri Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng and Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud ( right ) were among the dignitaries who attended the SUPP open house.

Meanwhile, SUPP president, Peter Chin, who is also the energy, green technology and water minister, said the presence of Taib reflected the strong bond enjoyed among Sarawak BN component parties.

He said the good inter-component party relationship would give an edge to SUPP in facing the coming general election.

- Bernama