Wong Soon Koh and supporters to boycott SUPP TDC

 

We, Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Datuk Richard Riot anak Jaem, Datuk Tiong Thai King, Datuk Francis Harden anak Hollis, Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Dr. Jerip anak Susil, Encik Ranum anak Mina and Dr. Johnichal Rayong Ngipa together with all our delegates and supporters from various Branches have decided that we will not participate in the Triennial Delegates Conference (“TDC”) of SUPP due to claims of irregularities and manipulations which will prevent a free and fair election at the TDC.  We will not legitimize the TDC by our participation having regard to the complaints made by many members to the Registrar of Societies (“ROS”).

We also have regard that many of our grassroot supporters are emotionally charged by the reports of manipulation and irregularities in the Branch elections.  Many members from various Branches have called us to express their unhappiness and frustration and if nothing is done to rectify the wrong doings and irregularities, they will stage a big protest and demonstration during the TDC and also resign en bloc.  This will certainly portray a very bad image of our Party, especially in front of our invited distinguished guests from our component Barisan Nasional parties during the official opening of the TDC.  We will withdraw from the TDC to prevent any such untoward incidents.

We had requested that a Central Working Committee (“CWC”) be convened to deal with the complaints by branch members of irregularities in branch elections.  The Party President has refused to convene the CWC.

Instead, the Secretary General on his own and the Central Election Committee (“CEC”) have usurped the powers of the CWC by purporting to make decisions on the election irregularities.  Under the Party Constitution, neither the Secretary General nor the CEC has power to make such decisions. 

The branch members who have complained to ROS did so only because they have not been able to obtain redress from the CWC.  Their complaints to ROS were made as a last resort.  We will leave it to the ROS to carry out its investigation into their complaints.

However, it would be wrong for our team to participate and give legitimacy to an election which cannot be free or fair due to the claims of irregularities in the Party branch elections.  We will not be a party to any illegality which may invite serious action by the ROS.

We are of the view that the correct approach to take must be :-

            (1)       Postpone the TDC;

            (2)       CWC conduct a full investigation into all the complaints of    irregularities in Branch elections;

            (3)       Fresh elections to be held in respect of the affected                            branches;

            (4)       TDC to be held only after all the irregularities have been                    rectified.

We urge the Party President, Secretary General and the Chin-Teng faction to allow the complaints of irregularities to be resolved by the CWC before the TDC is held.  If they insist on holding the TDC without first resolving the complaints of irregularities pending before the ROS, then they must accept full responsibility for any action that may be taken by ROS due to any wrong doing which will affect the TDC.

We urge all our supporters and all fair-minded members of SUPP not to participate in the TDC unless and until all wrong-doings at Branch elections are redressed by the CWC.

PRESS  STATEMENT

We, Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Datuk Richard Riot anak Jaem, Datuk Tiong Thai King, Datuk Francis Harden anak Hollis, Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Dr. Jerip anak Susil, Encik Ranum anak Mina and Dr. Johnichal Rayong Ngipa hereby declare that we will not accept any offer of any post in the Party because of all the reports of irregularities in a number of Branch Triennial General Meetings and election of office-bearers and delegates.

            Dated this      8th      day  of  December  2011.