Soon Koh on why SUPP's splinter group chose UPP road.

By Simon Peter

KUCHING, Oct 6, 2014: Newly formed United People's Party (UPP) officially opened its state headquarters today, signifying new chapter in the party's short history.

"It signifies a new beginning for all its members," UPP president Wong Soon Koh said. 

Wong Soon Koh (centre) with other UPP leaders at the opening of the party headquarters.

Wong, who is also the Minister of Local Government and Community Development, said:"We are travelling on a UPP road because the other (SUPP's) road has reached a dead end."

"It is not going to be an easy road for UPP members, but one which is long and we have to travel on it with great resilient," he said.

He said UPP has been placed with great responsibility such as to provide a meaningful leadership and needs of the people.

Wong pledged that UPP will work within the framework of the Barisan Nasional, work for Sarawak's identity and work with collective responsibility with the BN parties.

"UPP is the fulfilment to serve the people, to fight for the rights of Sarawak and Sarawakians and to uphold the constitution," he added.

Later speaking at the lunch after the opening of the headquarters, Wong said UPP is for all races in Sarawak, but emphasis is given to the Chinese in the urban centres.

"We have to help the urban Chinese to secure greater justice and fairness and we don't want them to move towards the Opposition while the bumiputra communities are fully behind the BN government," he said.

He said UPP will pay greater attention to the young people and to prepare them to take greater responsibilities and state leadership in future.

"Some years down the road, our great grandchildren will take pride in us and will know who participate in the formation of UPP," he said.

UPP, which was registered by the Registrar of Societies (RoS) on July 14, 2014, was launched on Aug 16.

Caption: Dr Jerip Susil (centre) with members of the Bengoh branch.

Since the  launch, the party now has 26 branches.

Among about 500 party members present the opening of the headquarters were Assistant Minister of Public Health and Bengoh State Assemblyman Dr Jerip Susil, Engkilili State Assemblyman Johnical Rayong and Opar State Assemblyman Ranum Mina. 

Wong, Jerip, Rayong and Ranum left SUPP on May 15, saying that they had lost confidence in the party and its leadership.

They, together with former president of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) William Mawan Ikom, joined a new party, Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras).

However, Wong and his supporters left Teras to form UPP.