ONE FOR ALL, ALL FOR ONE: The group led by Wong Kheh Fat (seated second right), Penghulu Lee Foh Nun (seated fourth right) and others aligned to Wong.
SIBU: Sarawak United People’s Party leaders in Kanowit aligned to the faction of Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh condemned Tan Sri Peter Chin’s faction for issuing a show-cause letter to Wong, saying such destructive action would only cause the downfall of SUPP after 54 years.
In a press statement issued yesterday, Wong’s supporters, including leaders like Wong Kheh Fat, Councillor Yii Sing Tong and Penghulu Lee Foh Nun supported Wong’s proposal for veteran party leaders who lost in general elections to step down.
They said these were leaders who had been rejected by the people, and as their ages were catching up, they should not cling on to their posts.
“These veteran leaders should give way to new blood to rejuvenate the political strength of SUPP. Instead, what we see now is the deepening of the cracks when Chin’s faction abuses party disciplinary actions to bring down leaders.”
There are now two factions in SUPP Kanowit – one aligned to Wong, the other to Chin.
This gave rise to two SUPP Kanowit branches in 2011 after each group held their own triennial general meeting and election.
Wong’s faction, however, accused Chin’s faction of holding their triennial general meeting without submitting the secretary’s and treasurer’s reports.
They argued: “If there is no proper triennial meeting in the absence of these reports, branch election cannot be held.”
This was because the reports of the secretary and treasurer were in the hands of Wong’s faction.
At the press statement, Wong’s faction also claimed that during the Kanowit branch election held by Chin’s faction, members who did not pay their subscription fees were allowed to vote.
Wong’s faction had brought these matters to the ROS for further action.
Other leaders in Kanowit aligned to Wong’s faction include Tong Tiong Chen, Penghulu Lim Choo Wei, Wong Soon Ping, Liong Mee Liangh, Kapitan Lim Chong Hieng, Fong Kin Yau, Kapitan Lai Kee Yin, Kapitan Phan Kee Jin, Kapitan Wong Xiao Sheng and kapitan Wong Sing Soon.