by Karen Bong
KUCHING, Sept 3: Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian today confirmed that newly-appointed Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng is a Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) member but not in the Kuching branch.
“She would not know other people (have) joined other branch(es). It need not be SUPP Kuching branch,” he said in clarifying Datuk Lily Yong’s recent statement that she was unaware as to which branch Wee belonged to.
Dr Sim claimed that Yong, who is SUPP Kuching branch chairperson, had been overseas most of the time and thus was likely not fully informed of some of the movements taking place in the party.
“He (Wee) is not from SUPP Kuching branch, he is from some other branch…. from my branch in Pending,” he added when clearing the air concerning Wee’s party membership status after officiating at the swearing-in ceremony for Wee as mayor at MBKS headquarters here.
“You don’t have to be worried about when (time Wee joined SUPP Pending branch). He is an SUPP member, just not in SUPP Kuching branch,” he told reporters.
He also emphasised that SUPP is currently looking into digitalisation of its membership registration process to enable greater accessibility through online membership application.
The SUPP annual delegate conference, he added, is taking place on Nov 9 and 10 and it will see party constitutional reform including a proposal for online application process for new members which will be tabled and discussed.
“Why are you people so worried if he (Wee) is an SUPP member or not? There are so many SUPP members around,” he reiterated.
Wee had on Sunday (Sept 1) declined to give a direct answer to the query as to whether he was a member of SUPP, saying he would rather leave it to Dr Sim, who is SUPP president, to respond to the question.
Earlier, Wee emphasised that the people should be more concerned about and look forward to what he as the new mayor has in store to better Kuching South.
“I think the people are more interested about my vision for the city, rather than my membership status. I think there are better things that the public would like to know than this. I am sure of that,” he said.
Meanwhile, on Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) eyeing three seats in the central region to contest, namely Bawang Assan, Pelawan and Dudong in the upcoming state election, Dr Sim said he would let the Youth wing respond to this matter.
“Unless it (the statement) is from Datuk Seri Tiong (King Sing, who is PDP president), then I will answer. I don’t want to be seen as bullying the PDP Youth,” he added.
PDP vice-president Teo Boon Siew, who made this remark, had said it was the party’s target and they hoped to be able to contest in the aforementioned three seats as the party has yet to be allocated any seats in the central region to contest.
However, he noted that the decision on contesting in the three seats lies with Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, who is also Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman. — DayakDaily
