SUPP urged to be open

SIBU: The Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) needs to be open and give opportunities to the younger generation to lead.

Its president Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said doing so   would guarantee the party’s existence for a long time.

He pointed out that Datuk Michael Tiang Ming Tee (Pelawan assemblyman), Joseph Chieng Jin Ek (Bukit Assek assemblyman), Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew, Kevin Lau Kor Jie (Head of SUPP Bawang Assan Community Development Team) were among the party’s young people and its future successors.  

“SUPP must be ready to give way to young people to ensure the survival of the party because positions do not last forever,” he said at the SUPP’s 65th anniversary luncheon celebration held at a leading hotel here yesterday.   

Dr Sim, who is also Deputy Premier, also reminded the party members to stay away from ‘termite’ attitudes that could damage the party and its unity.

“SUPP is already 65 years old and it still exists today because we all have a sense of responsibility towards this party. It belongs to us together and we always give it undivided support,” said Dr Sim, who is also the Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government.

For SUPP to remain in Sarawak’s political arena, he urged all party members to maintain the existing unity and be ready to accept transformation according to the current situation.

Meanwhile, Bukit Assek assemblyman, Joseph Chieng, who is also the event’s organising chairman, in his welcoming speech, said Sibu was the first established branch of SUPP.

“Today’s event is special because this is the second time SUPP Sibu has organised an anniversary event at the party’s central level,” he said.

According to him, the inaugural anniversary event was organised  in 1989  in conjunction with SUPP’s 30th anniversary.

“The late Datuk Robert Lau Hui Chew was then serving as organising committee chairman and the ceremony took place at the Old Sibu Sports building which is now Wisma Sanyan Sibu,” he said.

More than 2,000 party members from Opar and Lundu branches to Telang Usan Branch in the northernmost part attended the event.

Also present were SUPP vice president Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin, SUPP secretary- general Datuk Sebastian Ting, SUPP Deputy Treasurer Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew, SUPP youth leader Datuk Michael Tiang, SUPP women chief, Kho Teck Wan as well as members of other component parties of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).