Next SUPP President : Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian ???

 

STILL CONSIDERING OFFER: Dr Sim needs time to consider the offer of a job at National Heart Centre.

KUCHING: Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian who contested in the Pending constituency under Sarawak United People’s Party banner in the last state election is now counting the cost of his defeat to Violet Yong of Democratic Action Party (DAP).

The former Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) cardiac unit head who quit his job to stand for election said he was now jobless and had to leave the state to lecture overseas.

Dr Sim was expected to wrest the Pending seat from Yong the incumbent as he was a well known heart specialist but he was defeated by a margin of 7,595 votes garnering 6,780 against his opponent’s 14,375 votes.

After the election, many people here expected and hoped Dr Sim would go back to the medical field and continue his service in the cardiac unit.

However, he said he would not be going back to work as a cardiac unit head at SGH because someone had replaced him after he resigned before election.

Therewere some speculations in the Chinese papers yesterday, that Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan would like Sim to replace him as president of SUPP.

Former Deputy Chief Minister Dr Chan lost his Piasau constituency in the election had said it was time to let the young people lead the party and reform it.

When contacted by See Hua yesterday, Dr Sim said: “Never mind. Let them talk about it now. The more we talk now, more confusing it is. Wait until I have time, then we talk about it. Now I am very busy.”

Sim said after the election, he went to give lectures in Australia. Later, he would be flying to Korea.

“Because I am jobless now, I need to work. It is easier to earn abroad,” said Dr Sim.

He also said next week he would be attending a function in Kuala Lumpur.

About his future plan, Dr Sim said he was still not sure because he did not have time to think about it now.

When asked whether Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had offered him a job at National Heart Centre, Sim said Najib did, but he needed time to consider.