By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, June 4: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), once associated with a “towkay” or business-centric image, has evolved into a multi-ethnic political force representing all Sarawakians, says its president Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Speaking at the party’s 67th anniversary flag-raising ceremony today, Dr Sim said SUPP today is no longer defined by regional or community-based politics, but has become part of a broader nation-building framework under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
“SUPP has transformed from a regional, ‘towkay’ party to a party of everyone.
“It’s no longer just Sibu fighting with Kuching, Kuching fighting with Miri. We are all ‘sa’ati’ – satu hati. It’s because we realised we have a more important thing to do — it is for Sarawak,” he said.
According to him, this stability has allowed Sarawak to advance key development and welfare initiatives, while positioning the State for what he described as the final stage of nation-building towards 2030.
“This is the time when we must do big things — health autonomy, education autonomy and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” he said.
Dr Sim said the coming years would determine Sarawak’s long-term trajectory, stressing that continued unity was essential to ensure the State reaches its development goals.
“This election is a matter of whether Sarawak continues to grow towards 2030 or not. Are we already mature, or will we still be growing? The difference is that if we are mature after 2030, no one can bully Sarawak,” he stated.
He added that Sarawak’s governance model has gained attention beyond the State, citing increasing interest from external parties in its political stability and development approach.
Dr Sim also said SUPP’s transformation is part of a broader Sarawak identity shift, where political differences have been set aside in favour of long-term State-building objectives.
He said this unity is reflected in the party’s cooperation within GPS, which he credited for enabling consistent development planning across Sarawak.
The event also saw the launch of a book documenting SUPP’s history, authored by veteran party member K.C. John.
Dr Sim commended the effort, saying it reflects the importance of preserving the party’s historical journey since its founding in 1959.
He said documenting party history ensures that future generations understand SUPP’s role in Sarawak’s political development and nation-building process.
An audio recording of his speech was later shared with DayakDaily. — DayakDaily
