KUCHING, Aug 21: The Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) reiterated the party will defend all its 20 traditional seats in the coming 12th State Election (PRN12).
SUPP in a press statement issued today, said Mambong constituency is one of the SUPP’s 20 traditional seats in Sarawak and a candidate has been selected, therefore the party confirmed contesting in Mambong in the coming PRN12.
“Being one of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) members, SUPP’s mission is to safeguard our own 20 traditional seats.
“SUPP’s position and principle is that; elected YB can hop to other party, but they can’t bring along the seat.
“Hence, for Mambong assemblyman Datuk (Dr) Jerip Susil who has been left SUPP, the Mambong constituency still belongs to SUPP, same case applied to Opar and Engkilili constituencies. SUPP already has potential candidates for all these seats,” it said in the statement.
Mambong incumbent Dr Jerip, who is now in Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), won the seat (known previously as Bengoh) in 2001 on SUPP ticket and defended it as Barisan Nasional (BN) direct candidate in 2016.
At the same time, SUPP also asserted that all GPS members have their own traditional seats and they should be allowed to decide themselves on their own candidates.
GPS members, it said, should work together to win the coming Sarawak election.
“SUPP regrets to see that GPS members are now fighting for overlapping seats when election is near the corner, and this shouldn’t happen because GPS will not get any benefit from it.
“All GPS members should work together with sincerity to support each other with no hidden agenda,” it said.
Meanwhile, SUPP also welcomed Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing’s assurance that PRS will honour their word in supporting SUPP in Engkilili.
“In return, SUPP will support PRS candidate for Lubok Antu. This is the spirit that we want in GPS.
“GPS leaders should know who our enemies are and work together to fight them. There should not have any differences or “termites” in GPS,” the statement read. –DayakDaily.
