SUPP president throws support behind Mayor in Padungan

KUCHING: Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP) president Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian has brushed aside grouses by the party's Kuching branch and thrown his support behind Kuching South Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng, who is standing as a candidate in Padungan in the state election on Saturday.

"Winning the election is our number one priority. It is not the party's first interest but it is the party's supreme interest to win Padungan," he said, a day after the branch dissolved its election machinery in protest against Wee's candidacy because he was not their choice.

Describing the act as a "family quarrel", Dr Sim urged all party members from Padungan and councillors from other areas who are voting in the constituency to support Wee, who held a virtual press conference today to reveal his development plans for the commercial area.

"This is election time, the ordinary rakyat's interest comes first. Now, Padungan is lagging behind, excuses, frustrations and finger-pointing does not help. It needs someone who knows how to manage and fight for funding, not people who mislead you," said Dr Sim, who joined the press conference via video conference.

SUPP has long battled to regain Padungan which has fallen to the opposition in the past 15 years, first to PKR and the past two terms to DAP.

Padungan is tipped to be a keen fight between Wee and DAP state chief Chong Chieng Jen in a four-way tussle. Chong moved from Kota Sentosa to fill the contest in Padungan as party incumbent Wong King Wei had quit the party in July last year to become an independent and is staying out of the polls.

Dr Sim bared SUPP's ambition to wrest all six seats within Kuching, four of which are under the opposition.

"We want to form a strong team to transform Kuching in the next five years for the people to enjoy the city and share the best of Sarawak. Remember the team I put together, a vote for them is a vote for me and a vote for me is a vote for them," he said.

SUPP won Batu Kawah and Batu Kitang in 2016. Batu Kawah was won by Dr Sim and he is defending it against DAP and two other rivals.

DAP has held Padungan, Pending and Kota Sentosa for the past three terms while the remaining seat, Batu Lintang was retained by PKR in 2016 but winner See Chee How is now with Parti Sarawak Bersatu.

-- BERNAMA