SUPP’s Dayaks hold back on Wong
In-the-shadow SUPP treasurer David Teng may have already swung, in his favour, the party's Dayak votes.
KUCHING: The Dayaks in Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) have spoken. There should be “no contest” for the top posts in the party’s triennial delegates conference (TDC) on Dec 9.
“Top posts should be won by consensus… this is to avert a split within the party,” said senior Dayak leader Richard Riot, who is also SUPP deputy secretary-general.
But Riot stopped short of throwing his support behind secretary-general Wong Soon Koh who is vying to succeed president George Chan.
The race is on as the Dayaks are now in a “strong” position within SUPP following their 100 percent delivery on all four Dayak seats in the recent April 16 state polls.
SUPP, which contested in 19 seats, lost all except two of its Chinese-held seats.
Only Wong (Bawang Assan) and Lee Kim Shin (Senadin) managed to retain their seats.
Following the party’s dismal performance, Chan tendered his resignation and called on all senior SUPP leaders to do the same.
But few followed in his foot step.
Wong-Teng face-off
Chan has given his nod for Wong but a tussle for the top post is imminent.
Opposing Wong is party treasurer David Teng.
Supporters of long-time member Teng, who has lived in the shadows of Chan’s cronies and often overlooked for key posts, want him for the top seat.
Teng along with his lineup is seen as the “only” option for SUPP moving forward.
Said Riot, who is also Serian MP: “To me, (the new leadership) should be a combination of veteran leaders and young blood.
“We do not want a split and if there is a contest, it will definitely bring further split that we cannot afford.
“The victim will be SUPP,” he said.
‘Wait and see’
Riot urged his Serian branch members not to “over-commit” themselves in supporting the respective factions as it would lead to yet another deepening spate akin to the one experienced by the party in 2006.
He said members must be patient and closely watch the developments in the coming weeks.
““Our stand is that we do not want to see any contest… between October and November, anything can happen.
“Let’s just wait until maybe a few days before the TDC itself ,” he said.
But Riot added, however, that although he did not want to see a tussle for the top post, it was each individual’s democratic right to contest positions within the party.
“I will not condemn nor condone any SUPP leader’s interest in the presidential election. But our stand is that we must not be further split,” he added.
Vote for Riot
Riot also touched on his personal aspiration to move up in SUPP.
“I am very happy with being an assistant secretary-general, a deputy minister and the chairman of the Serian branch.
“But if given the chance to hold a higher post, why not?
“I will leave it to party members to decide whether I should go up or remain,” he said.
Meanwhile, his Serian branch has unanimously endorsed Riot to seek re-election in the next general election.
Thanking his members during the branch meeting yesterday, Riot, however, stressed that the final decision on candidacy rested with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
“My branch wants me to stand but it is the prerogative of the prime minister to choose the candidate,” he said.
Riot has been Serian MP since 1990.
In the 12th general election in 2008, he defeated Sarawak National Party (SNAP) candidate Sylvester Belayong by 13,427-vote majority in a straight fight.
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