Representatives from 33 branches pledge to support him for SUPP presidency

KUCHING: The heat is on in the race for the SUPP presidency, with party organising secretary Datuk Seri Peter Chin confirming his candidacy.

Chin said he could not “wash his hands” off a party in which he had spent his entire political career.

He made the announcement at the party headquarters here yesterday following a two-hour meeting with representatives of 33 SUPP branches, who pledged their support for him. SUPP has 43 branches statewide.

However, Chin refused to confirm whether his rumoured running mate, SUPP treasurer Datuk David Teng, would join him.

His wide support, comprising almost all the northern and southern branches, will leave the other confirmed SUPP presidency contender, Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh, in the cold.

Wong had told reporters on Saturday that he, along with Senadin branch chairman Datuk Lee Kim Chin from the northern region, would not pull out. Wong was not contactable for his immediate reaction to Chin’s claim of strong support. At a press conference here, Chin reiterated that he had “no ready team”.

He also said, while he wanted to head the party, the question of whether an open contest would arise was still unconfirmed.

“Whether there is a party election or not, I leave it to the events that will come.”

Chin said the show of support he had received in the last few days meant it would be inappropriate for him to “shy away from the responsibility”.

“I’ve worked with my comrades for so many years. I accept this responsibility to lead the party for the next few years,” Chin said during the 10-minute press conference.

“The grassroots leaders here were called at very short notice, and they came on their own free will. That’s something I appreciate. I thank them for their enthusiasm. With) this sort of attendance, how can you refuse?”

Seated next to Chin was his rumoured running mate Teng.

Teng said he was “not at all involved” or willing to stand.

“I’m here (at the meeting) because we (Chin and I) share common ground,” Teng said, when asked if he would be Chin’s number two in the party election scheduled for December.

“My job is finished,” he said.

Pressed further for comments, Teng replied: “It’s not me.”

To another question on whether he was definitely out and would not spring a surprise closer to the election, Teng said: “I myself am not interested. He’s (Chin) the guy talking today.”

Taking the question, Chin again insisted that he had “no ready team”.

“What is the use of having a ready team at this point? The delegates have the final say. At the end of the day, the delegates are the ones choosing the Central Committee, and then the Central Committee chooses the Central Working Committee,” he said.

Chin, who is the Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister, admitted to reporters that he had met with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak last week.

He was circumspect on the meeting.

“Yes I did (meet him). I don’t need to get his (Najib’s) permission, by the way.” He also confirmed that he had spoken to current party president Tan Sri Dr George Chan.

However, he said that Dr Chan would not need to give his blessings to anybody.

“He (Dr Chan) is leaving the stage. It’s up to the present party branches to see who is more suitable. I can’t say what I’ve talked about to them in private, just like I also had some conversations with Lee (Kim Shin), but I can’t divulge.”

The SUPP president-hopeful pledged to transform the party “so that, in the future, people will support SUPP and not support the DAP”.

On whether he would stand in the next general election, Chin said he was undecided.

A total 306 representatives from the 33 branches attended yesterday’s meeting at the Saati Hall in the headquarters.

Most of them began arriving after 4pm, with Chin arriving together with SUPP secretary-general Datuk Sim Kheng Hui at 5pm sharp.

Teng had walked in moments earlier.

It took the trio some 10 minutes to reach the front of the hall, where they were seated along with Chin’s political secretary Datuk Sebastian Ting, SUPP Kuching branch chairman Datuk Lily Yong, Kota Sentosa branch chairman Datuk Alfred Yap and SUPP Youth chief Sih Hua Tong, among others.

None of the four bumiputra elected representatives, who on Saturday pledged their support for Wong, were present.

They are Dr Jerip Susil (Bengoh assemblyman), Ranum Mina (Opar), Johnical Rayong Ngipa (Engkilili) and Datuk Francis Harden Hollis (Simanggang).