SUPP asks King Sing to explain: Are you reassessing PDP's position in GPS?

KUCHING, Feb 3 2026: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP has asked Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Tiong King Sing if his remarks reflect  his party’s reassessment of its position in Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

 

SUPP pointed to Tiong’s remark “if this place (GPS) will not keep me, there are other places that will”.

It said the remarks have sparked widespread public discussion, prompting speculation as to whether they reflect PDP’s reassessment of its position with GPS.

SUPP has asked Tiong on his remarks when replying to his accusation against SUPP and its president Dr Sim Kui Hian on the appointments of community leaders in Dudong and Bawang Assan constituencies.

In his second statement against SUPP and its president Dr Sim Kui Hian, Tiong said he has been informed yet again that just two days later, another appointment ceremony for community leaders and headmen would be held in Sibu.

“How does this not amount to an open invitation to conflict? I once again urge SUPP to state its position clearly: Have you decided to sideline your so-called ally, or even force us out? 

“If that is the case, then say it openly. If we are not welcome here, there are other places but we will not accept having our red-lines tested and trampled on repeatedly,” Tiong said in his Facebook post.

 

Don't play victim, SUPP reminds King Sing he replaced its recommended community leaders, headmen after he was elected in Dudong

KUCHING, Feb 3 2026: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) has asked Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Tiong King Sing not to play victim over his criticism on the appointments of community leaders in Dudong and Bawang Assan state constituencies.

SUPP: Tiong King Sing’s recent reference in a second statement to the saying, ‘If this place will not keep me, there are other places that will,’ has sparked widespread public discussion, prompting speculation as to whether it reflects PDP’s reassessment of its position within GPS.
 

The party reminded Tiong of what he did to its community leaders and headmen after he was elected as the state legislative member (SLM) for Dudong after the 2021  state election.

SUPP also reminded Tiong that the latest round of Chinese community leader appointments was carried out strictly in accordance with quotas allocated to each component party by the Sarawak Cabinet Committee, and was not a decision that could be arbitrarily manipulated or exceeded by any individual.

“Tiong’s public criticism is no longer directed at an individual component party leader, but reflects a fundamental lack of respect for the collective decisions and institutional framework of the committee,” it said in a statement issued last night.

“Such remarks are tantamount to undermining the very administrative system and governance structure of which he himself is a part,” SUPP said in response to Tiong’s outburts over the appointments of the community leaders and village headmen.

SUPP reminded Tiong that after he was elected as state legislative member (SLM) for Dudong, he systematically replaced community leaders and headmen who had long been recommended by SUPP, diligently serving at the grassroots level and widely recognised by the community.

SUPP alleged that some community leaders recommended by SUPP were subjected to inducements or pressure, being asked to resign from SUPP and join PDP in exchange for retaining their community leader appointments.

“Is this not precisely the kind of conduct that Tiong criticised in his recent statement—using community leader appointments as a political weapon to monopolise grassroots influence?” SUPP asked, adding: “Does this not constitute a clear double standard?”

SUPP noted that since 1987, Dudong constituency has long been recognised as a traditional SUPP seat.

“However, during the last Sarawak state election, just as its originally designated candidate was about to receive final endorsement to contest under the GPS banner, the candidate was suddenly disqualified at the last moment based on unsubstantiated allegations, leaving the party completely caught off guard.

“The seat was ultimately contested by a PDP candidate on behalf of GPS, and Tiong himself was “parachuted” into  Dudong constituency under these circumstances and subsequently elected,” SUPP said.

It questioned whether such a process was consistent with the so-called “GPS spirit” that Tiong has recently invoked to criticise others.

SUPP also said it is necessary for Tiong to clearly account to the public how many days he has actually attended the Sarawak State Assembly sitting since being elected as Dudong assemblyman in 2021.

“How many questions he has raised in the assembly on livelihood issues, local development and infrastructure needs in Dudong; and how many initiatives he has personally advanced through the State Assembly and successfully implemented?” SUPP asked.

SUPP also asked Tiong to explain part of his second statement if PDP intends to stay with the GPS or go to another coalition.

It said Tiong’s recent reference in a second statement to the saying, ‘If this place will not keep me, there are other places that will,’ has sparked widespread public discussion, prompting speculation as to whether it reflects PDP’s reassessment of its position within GPS.

Body of six-year girl, reported missing yesterday, was found floating in Daro River

DARO, Feb 2 2026: A six-year old child who was reported missing and feared to have been fallen into the nearby river yesterday, has been found by a search and rescue (S&R) team.

Caption: The search and rescue team bringing the body of the girl which was found floating in Daro River 

The  body of Aqilla Nasuha  Shamsol was found floating in Daro River this afternoon.

The S&R team then informed the police for identification of the victim.

Her body was then picked up at Kampung Panchur Jetty and then taken to the hospital using a police vehicle for confirmation of death.

Daro Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) station, in a statement, said initial information received revealed that the victim had fallen into Daro River.

The statement said the child, who was said to be an active type, left on her own through the back door of the house without her parents knowing.

“The child's father found his daughter's footprints heading towards the river at around 1pm yesterday before informing Bomba,” it said.

The S&R operation resumed this morning along Daro River, consisting of 68 people from a combination of agencies and villagers using 12 boats.

“At 4pm, team found the victim floating in the river near Kampung Lemang Pek,” the statement said.

Make a public apology to Sarawakians, social activist tells Azalina for your careless statement

KUCHING, Feb 2 2026: Social activist Voon Shiak Ni today demanded Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said to make a public apology to Sarawakians for her careless statement claiming that the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) does not contain provision on the ownership of oil and gas found inside Sarawak’s boundary.

Voon Shiak Ni: It is a disappointment for Azalina Othman Said to make a careless statement on MA63
 

She said it is very irresponsible of the law minister who is expected to have the legal knowledge on the matter in discussion to downplay the seriousness of the call by Sarawakians to safeguard their constitutional rights and claims on the natural resources on their land .

“It is a disappointment and shocking for her make a statement that MA63 does not contain any provision concerning the ownership or regulation of oil and gas resources,” Voon said in a statement.

“There should be no dispute on the Sarawak’s oil and gas rights and as a law minister, she should be in the know that the ownership of oil and gas rights can only be interpreted accurately by reading MA63 together with the Sarawak land Code , the Continental Shelf Act 1966 , the Oil Mining Ordinance 1958 , the Federal Constitution and other relevant agreements before lashing out that MA63 contains “ nothing “ on oil and gas ownership and regulation which has triggered massive unrest and anger among Sarawakians,” she said.

Voon, who is a lawyer, said the Sarawak Land Code defines land to include seabed and ownership of offshore resources and so do the Continental Shelf Act 1966 ( Revised 1972) which defines the continental shelf in Malaysia as the sea-bed and subsoil adjacent to the coast, beyond territorial waters, extending to a depth of 200 meters.

She said Sarawak, therefore, is entitled to assert their constitutional rights over the natural resources on their adjacent continental shelves.

Voon stressed that Azalina, as the law minister, should be educated enough to know that oil and gas and land are state matters which are given safeguards under the Federal Constitution, the Acts, Ordinances and most particularly for Sarawak and Sabah, are made inseparable from Sarawak and Sabah before the formation of Malaysia.