No use for SUPP trying to stop UPP to join BN, says DAP

KUCHING, Dec 9, 2014: Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen has said that it is no use for Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) trying to stop United People's Party (UPP) from becoming a component party of  the State Barisan Nasional (BN).

"At the end of the day, it is Chief Minister and State BN chairman Adenan Satem who will make the final decision," he said at a press conference.

He added:"SUPP can say all they want to say, but it will not carry weight."

Chong recalled an example when SUPP adopted a resolution in the 1970s to use its own three-ring symbol, instead of the BN's weighing machine symbol, in a general election.

"The resolution was unanimously adopted at the SUPP general  assembly, but a directive from the BN leadership forced SUPP to use the BN symbol," he added.

"My guess is that SUPP will give up some of its 19 state seats allocated to UPP...how many, we don't know," he said.

He said if Adenan had wanted to remove UPP leaders Wong Soon Koh and Jerip Susil and Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) leaders William Mawan Ikom, Peter Nansian, Rosey Yunus and Sylvester Entri from his administration, he would have done so before.

He said that the fact that he wants them to remain in their ministerial positions shows that he does not want them to be removed.

"Whatever SUPP says, it is irrelevant and does not carry weight in eyes of Adenan," he added.