Soon Koh expelled from SUPP

KUCHING, May 19, 2014: Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) has expelled Local Government and Community Development Minister Wong Soon Koh from the party for "announcing his intention" to join Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) last week.

Soon Koh, former SUPP Sibu branch chairman, had, at a press conference on May 15, announced that he was leaving SUPP to join Teras.

Also with him from SUPP were assistant minister Jerip Susil, state assemblymen Ranum Mina (Opar) and Johnical Rayong (Engkilili).

At the same press conference, Social Development Minister William Mawan Ikom also announced his resignation as president of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and as its member.

Picture: SUPP leaders and members shouting the word "Sa'ati" three times as they clinched their fists and punched the air.

With Mawan leaving SPDP were assistant ministers Peter Nansian, Rosey Yunus, Sylvester Entrie and state assemblyman Paulus Gumbang (Bukit Kota).

Sarawak Workers' Party (SWP) deputy president and Pelagus state assemblyman George Lagong was also joining Teras -  one of the five parties from Sarawak registered last year.

At its meeting yesterday afternoon, SUPP's CWC also demanded Soon Koh to resign immediately as state assemblyman for Bawang Assan and as State Cabinet Minister on grounds that he had betrayed SUPP which had nominated him to contest in the 2011 state elections.

Other resolutions adopted at the CWC meeting are:

(a)  to write to Jerip ak Susil, Ranum ak Mina and Johnical Rayong ak Ngipa seeking clarification on whether or not they had or are joining Teras;

(b) to object any application by Teras to be admitted as a component party of the Barisan Nasional or even as a BN-Plus Formula;

(c) to state the  SUPP's claim on the 19 State and the seven Parliamentary seats which were allocated to the party. This shall not be negotiable; and

(d) to work closely with the remaining existing SUPP Sibu branch committee members, Youth section and Women section committee members and party members to ensure that the Sibu branch to function as normal and will continue to provide services to the people as usual.

Meanwhile, CWC appealed to all members and supporters to remain calm and united at this critical and difficult times.