by Geryl Ogilvy Ruekeith. Posted on November 3, 2011, Thursday
HE’S NOT ALONE: Chin (centre), Sim (left) and Teng smiling as they relate the points in the transformation plan to reporters.
KUCHING: SUPP presidential aspirant Datuk Seri Peter Chin said party delegates are the king makers and they should make all the important decisions, including the possibility of a compromise with Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh in the race for the president’s post.
Asked by reporters on a deal to avoid a contest after he had launched ‘SUPP Transformation Plan’ at party headquarters here yesterday, Chin said he had not yet met Wong officially to discuss the possibility of a compromise for the party’s top post.
However, he was quick to state that he was open to such a discussion with the deputy secretary-general if it was in the best interest of the party.
“We are all friends, we can talk anytime. There is still a possibility of a compromise from both sides for the good of the party. If cooperation is the best option, why not?
“However, it is still up to the delegates. I, on the other hand, welcome anyone who wants to cooperate in the best interest of SUPP,” said Chin, who is the party’s organising secretary
Chin, who is also Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister, is in a tussle with Wong, who is also Second Finance Minister and Minister of Local Government and Community Development, for the party’s top post.
Party president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan will be stepping down during the Triennial Delegates Conference (TDC), which is scheduled to be held here on Dec 9 -11, following his defeat in Piasau in the April 16 state polls.
Chin explained that his reason for not naming his team to take on Wong was because he wanted the delegates to exercise their rights for the good of the party. He stressed that he preferred to work with those who were voted “through the wisdom of party delegates”.
“Why should I name my team? Let the delegates choose their preferred leader. To cast me as a lone ranger is wrong because at the end of the day whoever I choose as office-bearers now is irrelevant because it is the delegates and the central working committee (CWC) who would be casting the votes.
“The delegates are the ones who would be voting while the CWC elect the office-bearers because, in their wisdom, they know who is suitable for what position. Therefore, I do not want to create a team because this would force the delegates to choose,” said Chin.
He added that having a team also had its disadvantage because there was always that possibility that some delegates might not like some of the team members.
When asked to comment on a rumour that he already had a “shadow line-up” which was influenced by political ‘higher power’, Chin refuted the claim.
“Nobody (political big wigs) influences me to contest. My influence was from the people who came to advise me that I should serve as an alternative for the delegates during the TDC.
“I do not need blessings from either the Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud or Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to contest for the president’s post.
“Why should I need blessings from the chief minister or the prime minister? Let the delegates decide whom they want (as their leader). Let the delegates choose my team. Furthermore, I’m not with Umno. SUPP is a component party of the BN,” he replied.
Chin revealed that one of his greatest fears was seeing SUPP disappearing into political oblivion.
“My heart bled when all our comrades in Kuching lost during the April state polls,” he said.
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