By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, Nov 27: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew foresees a challenging fight in the 12th Sarawak Election for the party’s seats in urban areas.
Ting, who is also SUPP Piasau chairman and Piasau incumbent, disclosed this when asked by local media on SUPP’s strategy to recapture and defend the party’s seats.
“Despites the challenges, we at SUPP will work hard (to ensure that we win) and most importantly, we must show that we are people-centric,” he said on Saturday after officiating at the Saberkas Piasau Career Carnival in Miri.
Also present was Miri mayor Adam Yii, who is also SUPP Pujut chairman.
Ting added that seats in urban areas have always been challenging and tough, including Piasau.
When asked about who would SUPP field for its candidate in Pujut, Ting reiterated that it will be announced by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg when the time comes.
Ting, won the Piasau seat in the 2016 Sarawak Election after defeating Alan Ling of Democratic Action Party (DAP) with a majority of 2,112 votes.
Ting garnered 7,799 votes while Alan Ling polled 5,687 votes.
Ting was a former political secretary to Tan Sri Peter Chin Fah Kui, who was Miri MP from 2004 to 2013.
Menwhile, speculation is rife that Yii may stand in Pujut, but when met recently during a site inspection in Kampung Pulau Melayu, he kept mum on the subject, saying that it woud be up to the party’s top leadership to decide his candidacy.
Pujut was won by DAP’s Dr Ting Tiong Choon in the 2016 Sarawak Election but he has since been disqualified over his dual citizenship status last year, leaving the Pujut seat vacant since then.
During the 2016 election, Dr Ting secured 8,899 votes to win Pujut in a four-cornered fight against Barisan Nasional candidate Hii King Chiong who garnered 7,140 votes, PAS candidate Jofri Jaraiee (513 votes), and independent candidate Fong Pau Teck (375 votes). — DayakDaily
