KUCHING, July 20: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Stakan today firmly expressed that it is its branch members who are also residents of Stampin parliamentary constituency who want Dato Sim Kiang Chiok to stand as a candidate in the upcoming 15th General Election (GE15).
Branch secretary Sivanesan Sanmugalingam, in a statement today, thanked party president Dato Sri Sim Kui Hian for making the clarification that Stakan branch chairman Kiang Chiok did not personally lobby to become a candidate.
“Stakan Branch is not one person, and like the party president (Dr Sim) said today, Dato Sim Kiang Chiok did not personally lobby for it (to become a candidate).
“It is us, the party members who want it and we live in the Stampin area. As such, we are local people who want him as a candidate,” he said.
Viewing Dr Sim’s remarks and advice in a good light, Sivanesan sees it as a good sign and that the party’s Stakan Branch is doing the right thing.
Aware that there will be those who will disapprove of Kiang Chiok’s candidacy, Sivanesan pointed out that it is part and parcel of politics and will leave it to the party president to choose the best candidate when the time comes.
“It is still early and we have to just move along and show our work. The rest is in the hands of the president and the chairman of GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg,” he said.
He also emphasised that SUPP Stakan will begin today with door-to-door visits starting in Kiang Chiok’s own neighbourhood of Everbright Estate near 3rd Mile here.
“As for the questions about his (Kiang Chiok) work on the ground, it will speak for itself soon enough. Our job will be to highlight them as we go along and show proof of work,” he added.
Sivanesan had yesterday (July 19) in a press conference claimed that Kiang Chiok is the most suitable candidate to face Democratic Action Party (DAP) and wrest back the Stampin seat for GPS.
Earlier today, Dr Sim said it is the voices of the people on the ground who will lobby and determine the right candidate for SUPP in the GE15 and not the self-lobbying efforts of either branch or aspiring candidate.
He also emphasised that a potential candidate must be someone who is always on the ground to serve and not just somebody who only appears in newspapers as it is the people who will elect the candidate.
Dr Sim thus felt that it was unwise of Stakan Branch to announce their candidate of choice for Stampin parliamentary seat publicly as it will be very embarrassing if the prospective candidate is not selected to run in the general election. — DayakDaily
