SUPP’s candidates known within next 3 days

by Lee Ya Yun. Posted on March 31, 2011, Thursday


WHAT’S THE LATEST?: Reporters pursuing Dr Chan for an interview.

KUCHING: The final list of Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) candidates might be known today or the latest by April 2.

Party president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan, however, hinted that there would be no big surprises in the final lineup.

“We are finalising it (the candidate list),” he told reporters yesterday after a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at PBB headquarters here.

When asked about fielding ‘recycled’ candidates and retaining incumbents, Dr Chan replied: “When the time comes you will know. Why are you so impatient?”

He was also tight-lipped about the candidate for Padungan.

“Myself and leaders of other State BN component parties will be meeting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak personally to discuss the candidates’ list.”

Earlier, during a press conference, Muhyiddin revealed that the meeting between Najib and the state leaders would be held “very soon”.

Out of the 19 seats that SUPP is expected to be given for the 10th State Election, the candidates for at least three seats — Padungan, Meradong and Dudong — are still anybody’s guess.

There are widespread speculations that SUPP might field non-party members in Padungan and Meradong. Word from the grapevine is that Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor James Chan might be fielded in Padungan and Pelagus incumbent Larry Sng in Meradong.

As for Dudong, rumours have it that incumbent Datuk Dr Soon Choon Teck might be replaced by Lanang MP and Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King.

Asked to elaborate on the funds allocated to primary schools as announced by Muhyiddin earlier during the news conference, Dr Chan replied that schools could expect the first disbursement, amounting to RM50,000 each, within a week.

Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, had announced an allocation of RM25.68 million for 130 mission schools, RM20 million for 167 Chinese-aided primary schools and RM28 million for government primary schools in Sarawak.

Dr Chan said the next disbursement would depend on, among others, the size of the school.

“Most of the time, we calculate the number of students in a school. Bigger schools will get more allocations…otherwise it would not be fair.”