By Geryl Ogilvy
KUCHING, March 27: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Engkilili has cautioned rural folks not to fall prey to the “we are behind the Chief Minister” tune being played by non-Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) politicians.
Its chairman, Dandi Timbang, said many longhouse folks in the constituency were of the impression that their local elected representative, Johnical Rayong Ngipa, and his party, Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), were a component of the ruling alliance.
This is especially so considering that PSB president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh and deputy president Datuk Dr Jerip Susil are members of the State Cabinet.
“Do not be easily hoodwinked by sweet words claiming to be friendly to the Chief Minister or the coalition, in general, by any individual or group who are not GPS component member, as it is only rhetoric in trying to win over their hearts and minds with no sincerity,” Dandi said during the SUPP Touch Point Initiative visit to a longhouse at Langkang Ili, Engkilili, on Sunday (March 24).
SUPP Engkilili deputy chairman Kua Jack Seng was also present.
Dandi revealed that during the “randau” session (dialogue) with the longhouse community of Rumah Ruekeith, many of the women folk admitted to having no knowledge that their elected representative was not a member of the state ruling coalition.
He added that the longhouse folk had pledged to support the GPS nominated candidate come the next state election that must be called by 2021.
PSB, formerly known as United People’s Party (UPP), has long declared itself as GPS-friendly. During its extraordinary delegates conference last December, the party pledged its full support for the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
However, a recent development where Sri Aman MP Datuk Masir Kujat resigned as vice-president and member of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) to join PSB did not sit well with GPS coalition partners.
UPP was formed by Wong and his supporters after they left SUPP in 2014, following a leadership tussle.
Meanwhile, the Touch Point Initiative aimed to assist Abang Johari’s administration to explain to the people of Engkilili the need for them to understand the struggle regarding Sarawak’s interests and rights based on the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
“Being coalition partners of GPS, SUPP is taking urgent initiative to help explain Sarawak’s rights considering that our elected representatives are not members of GPS,” Dandi said, while also making reference to Lubok Antu MP Jugah Muyang of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
Engkilili and Batang Ai state seats are both under the Lubok Antu parliamentary constituency.
The Touch Point Initiative has covered Rumah Landan in Tabut, Rumah Dandi in Skrang Scheme, Sg Keroh, and Rumah Nancy in Marup. Their next visit would be Rumah Unchat, Nibong Baru. — DayakDaily
