ADVISORY ROLE WOULD BE FINE - DR CHAN

KUCHING: SUPP president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan prefers to only play an advisory role in the party come the 13th general election.

The former Deputy Chief Minister said SUPP should be led by new blood even if the parliamentary election was called before the party’s triennial delegate’s conference (TDC) which is scheduled to be held from Dec 9 to 11 this year.

“If the 13th general election is held before our TDC, then I should step down and play the advisory role. We need new blood in the party so that SUPP and the Barisan Nasional (BN) could win the election,” Dr Chan told The Borneo Post Thursday night after witnessing the signing of an MoU for the setting up of a new technical college in Desa Senadin here.

Dr. Chan said he concurred with the recent view expressed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak that all BN members must strengthen unity to win the 13th general election.
Najib stressed that BN must be seen and accepted as a party fighting for the interests and wellbeing of the people, and that only winnable candidates be fielded.

During the April 16 state polls, SUPP lost 13 of the 19 seats it contested. Out of the six seats it won, only two (Senadin and Bawang Assan) were in predominantly Chinese areas. Dr Chan were among those who lost, losing his stronghold of Piasau to a DAP rookie.

After the election, several top party leaders, including Dr Chan, handed in their resignation letters to take responsibility for the defeats but they were told by the Central Working Committee (CWC) to stay on until the TDC, where new office bearers would be elected.

Dr Chan revealed that his decision to step down formed part of the party’s preparations for the 13th general election and to completely revamp the party.

In the 2006 state election, the party lost eight of the 19 seats it contested and this led to calls for Dr Chan’s head. However, the leadership crisis eventually simmered down after Dr. Chan agreed to step down in 2008. However, during the TDC in 2008, he was instead asked to continue leading the party.