By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 8: A political tussle is brewing between Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) over the Bawang Assan seat, after incumbent assemblyman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh hit out at SUPP president Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian for publicly proposing a candidate for the constituency ahead of the Sarawak election expected this year.
Wong, in a statement on Monday (June 6), expressed disappointment and dissatisfaction over Dr Sim’s remarks that SUPP Central Youth chief Kevin Lau Kor Jie would be proposed for consideration as the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate for Bawang Assan in the upcoming State election.
He said such public declarations were “unnecessary and disruptive”, arguing that the final decision on seat allocations and candidate selection rested solely with Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg as GPS chairman.
“The final decision on the allocation of electoral seats and the selection of candidates, including the constituencies of Bawang Assan and Engkilili, rests solely with the Premier of Sarawak,” Wong said.
He added that any component party leader who made public announcements before the Premier had decided on the matter was “overstepping his authority”.
Wong also reminded Dr Sim, who is a GPS vice chairman and Deputy Premier, of the coalition’s principle of consultation and consensus, saying leaders should promote unity rather than make unilateral statements on unresolved matters.
“Such immature actions only create unnecessary speculation, confusion, and anxiety among grassroots members and the public,” he said.
At this crucial time, Wong emphasised that the priority for every GPS component party should be to remain united and focus on advancing Sarawak’s development and improving the well-being of its people.
“I urge Dr Sim Kui Hian to refrain from making unilateral political statements that undermine unity. Instead, he should return to the principle of collective leadership within GPS and avoid allowing personal political considerations to jeopardise the coalition’s stability,” he added.
The dispute follows Dr Sim’s remarks on July 4 during the 12th anniversary celebration of the SUPP Bawang Assan branch in Sibu, where he announced that he would submit Lau’s name to Abang Johari for consideration as the GPS candidate for the seat.
Dr Sim, who is also the Batu Kawah assemblyman, said Lau, as SUPP Bawang Assan branch chairman, was an active young leader with strong communication skills and had shown commitment in championing development issues affecting the constituency.
Among the issues highlighted by Lau was the proposed construction of a bridge linking Sibu with the western part of Bawang Assan, which received a positive response from the Premier.
Dr Sim said Sarawak needed more capable young leaders to ensure continuity in development and safeguard the interests of the people.
The latest exchange has revived a long-standing seat allocation issue within GPS following the entry of former Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) leaders and members into PDP.
The Bawang Assan and Engkilili seats were traditionally contested by SUPP before former PSB leaders, including Wong and Engkilili assemblyman Johnical Rayong Ngipa, joined PDP after PSB was dissolved and absorbed into the party on April 6, 2024.
The move created overlapping claims between PDP and SUPP over the two constituencies, which had historically been under SUPP’s electoral domain.
Wong, who was formerly a SUPP leader, has held the Bawang Assan seat for seven terms since 1991 under different political banners. He was sacked from SUPP in 2014 before forming PSB, which later joined PDP en bloc.
Meanwhile, Johnical, who currently represents Engkilili, is another former PSB leader whose presence in PDP has complicated GPS seat negotiations.
With the Sarawak election approaching, the final decision by Abang Johari on seat allocations will likely determine whether SUPP retains its traditional claim over Bawang Assan and Engkilili or whether PDP’s newly strengthened position following the PSB merger will be recognised. — DayakDaily
