Easter Sunday meeting ‘resurrects’ SUPP-UPP collaboration for GE14

Dr Sim (seated left) and Wong (seated right) sign the MoU documents, witnessed by Abang Johari (back row, centre) and other state BN supreme council members on March 23, 2018. — DayakDaily.com file pic

KUCHING, April 5: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) and United People’s Party (UPP) held their first fruitful coming together on Easter Sunday following their signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on March 23 which amongst others aims to facilitate collaboration in the 14th general election (GE14).

The consultative committee formed under the MoU hosted its first meeting on April 1 which was attended by SUPP president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian and UPP president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, SUPP said in a statement on Tuesday.

Also present were the respective secretaries, SUPP’s Datuk Sebastian Ting and UPP’s George Lo.

At the Easter Sunday meeting the members of the consultative committee reached a unanimous agreement that both parties reaffirm their commitment to work closely and collaborate with each other in the forthcoming parliamentary election.

This is to ensure maximum victory for the state Barisan Nasional team led by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.

As reflected in the March 23 MoU, both parties also agreed that all ‘ketua masyarakat’ and councillors representing both parties shall remain status quo and their positions will be discussed after the forthcoming general election.

It was also agreed that the consultative committee shall be increased to six members with the addition of Serian MP Dato Sri Richard Riot and Mambong assemblyman Datuk Dr Jerip Susil.

The MoU was signed between both parties to unite the Sarawak Chinese community.

At the signing ceremony Abang Johari had said: “The MoU would serve as the motivator to enable both the parties to explore the means to unite as one entity in order to represent the interest of the Chinese and other communities within the spirit and teamwork of Barisan Nasional.

“At the same time, it is to make our state united and easy for us to pursue our desire, especially in our efforts to take back the lost rights within Malaysia Agreement 1963,” the chief minister told a press conference after witnessing the signing at the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) headquarters in Kuching. — DayakDaily