KUCHING, April 25: United People’s Party (UPP) president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh has confirmed his own retirement citing his refusal to overstay his welcome, at least three times.
The International Trade and E-commerce Minister said his retirement was not part of the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UPP and Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP).
“Everyone will be thinking of retiring after working for a long time. Don’t overstay your welcome and I am of certain age already. But let us talk about this some other time,” said Wong when he was first grilled by the Chinese media.
When it was the turn of the English media to fire questions on the reasons why he had to retire and whether his retirement was part of the deal within the MOU, Wong issued a denial.
“It is all my wish. I think it is about time. Don’t overstay your welcome. It is not part of the plan (MoU).
“Since my son (Datuk Andrew Wong) has to contest (in Sibu parliamentary seat), I think it is time for me to gradually fade out. I don’t want to overstay my welcome,” said Wong when met by the press at the presentation of credential letters to Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates at Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu headquarters today.
He said when he fades out, UPP would still be “okay” because there would be new leaders taking over.
When he was pressed on who would be his successor, Wong sidestepped and said it “was too early to say”
“UPP will still be around until such time when UPP comes together with SUPP. It is an eventual goal,” said Wong who is also Second Finance Minister.
SUPP and its splinter party UPP had signed an MOU recently to pave way for the long-term process of uniting as a single party again. — DayakDaily
