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By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Sept 2: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian thanked the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) component parties for helping his party through a political crisis in 2014.
“SUPP is now united, focused, and does not fight for positions—instead, we contribute,” he said during a special SUPP convention held in conjunction with Sarawak’s 60th year of independence at the party’s headquarters today.
Dr Sim, who is also Deputy Premier, said the party comprises various people of different backgrounds.
“They (people) used to call us the ‘towkay’ party, but we have transformed. SUPP are ordinary Sarawakians—we have hawkers, farmers, and professionals, and we have members from the urban and rural areas.
“I want to thank GPS component parties— Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP)—for helping us through the crisis in 2014,” he said.
He added that GPS’ strength provides stability through consensus and unity.
“That is how we fought so hard and won 76 out of 82 seats during the 12th State election in 2021,” he said.
Dr Sim wants GPS to continue maintaining the formula of success and to be aware of any individuals who could cause dis-stabilisation and disunity in the parties.
“In politics, trust is the most sacred, then there are principles where both cannot be broken. If one of our component parties is weak, we give them a hand so that we can fight for a stronger Sarawak.
“The next seven years are crucial for Sarawak because once we achieve the status of a developed State through the Post-Covid Development Strategy 2030, we are untouchable,” he said.
For the record, in 2014, conflict broke out in SUPP, leading to several prominent members leaving the party to form the United Peoples’ Party (UPP), later rebranded as Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB). — DayakDaily
