SUPP is still relevant

suppadmin | January 31, 2014

With the suspense of the Registrar of Society (ROS) decision on the fate of the SUPP, party leaders bravely put aside their fears to meet VVIPs, members of the public and their members to wish each other a Happy New Year.

Led by Party President, Tan Sri Peter Chin, they welcomed the guests to usher in the New year celebration held at the Sa’ati hall, where food and drinks and angpows for the children awaited the guests.

Organising Chairman of the Open house this year, Tan Kai has been making preparations despite putting his own family’s celebration aside. He said Woman’s Chief, Amy Tay who is the co-organiser, has been a big help to him.

Although the celebration went smoothly, Tan Kai was caught by surprise at the big number of guests turning up. He said for the last five years, they had prepared food for about 3,000 person and there was always a lot of wastage due to low turnout.

“This year, during our committee meeting, we decided to decrease the amount of food to 2,500. By mid morning, the food was almost all gone and we have to ask the food caterer to give us another batch for 1,000 people. “We were caught by surprise but it’s a nice surprise that many people came – mostly to give us moral support due to the party crisis. It’s a sign that the people want us to know the party is important and we can still serve them,” he said.

Although the appeal of the ROS decision is hanging over their heads, Tan Kai said party leaders told them to be brave and stayed together to show the ROS the people still need SUPP.

Amy Tnay, Woman SUPP Woman Chief, believed that when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. She said the party is reaching a crucial moment and appealed to ROS not to take a harsh attitude towards them.

“This morning, so many members and outsiders came. Many of them sympathise with us, even outsiders. The members all came to show their support. It is worth all our efforts put in to make this new year open house a success.

Tnay said the ROS should realised that as human being, no one is perfect and should not de-register SUPP. “Imagine any driver will commit some offences once a while. Punish us then if we really commit the offence but not to the extend of taking away our driving licence,” she said.

Albert Ong Liang Hee, Tan Kai Youth Chief.

Albert Ong Liang Hee, aged 74, the eldest son of the first SUPP President, Tan Sri Ong Kee Hui is sadden by what is happening in the party at the moment.

Ong said he respected Dato’ Sri Tiong King Sing for speaking his mind about some present leaders in SUPP. “What Tiong has said is what a number of SUPP members wants to say but were too polite to do so. Tiong is outspoken, brave and speaks the truth. The truth will prevail,” he said.

He pointed out that SUPP has a great number of young leaders and if the matter is resolved, the younger group should take over. The party leaders should solve the issues with sincerity. “If you love your party, solve the issue internally, do not go to the authority. It is still not too late to resolve the matter amicably if the ROS understand the relevance of SUPP to the masses. I too pray the ROS will not de-register the party,” he added.

Ong said whenever he visited his father’s grave, he always talked to him about the party and said he was glad his father was not around to see what has happened to the party his father led before.

Having followed his father throughout his political life since young, Ong said he hoped that the party would continue with the gotong royong spirit. “In the past, everything was done voluntarily. Nowadays, most of the time, money talks. It is sad. I hope the new team which will lead the party will continue with the spirit of gotong royong,” he added.

Having been a die-hard supporter, Ong said every Chinese new year open house, he would be one of the first to arrive. “I see hope this year. I see Chinese, Malays, Dayaks and a lot of members coming back. This is a good sign,” he added.

Associate Prof Sick Goh Ngong, a retired lecturer from UiTM who is a veteran in SUPP, said he was greatly distressed by what is happening in SUPP.

“This matter should have resolved five years ago if some leaders had given way to the younger generation. But it did not happen and it rocked the party into crisis. At that time, it will be a smooth transition. That time was right. Now the time is ripe and the crisis escalated to something worst, “ he said.

The Associate Prof hoped that the two factions would deal with the matter and compromise to see a united party coming up. “Both sides should give way, not only one of them, to end this crisis. Go for the solution, not the confrontation,” he added.

He said a lot of veterans were too sad to voice out anymore as suggestions have been given to the leaders already. “Now it is their time to make it happen,” he said.

Party President Tan Sri Peter Chin had echoed the same solution. Chin said his only concern is that the party survived and would want controversial figures to go, including himself. “It must be an agreement from both sides so only then the problem can be solved. Both sides must be sincere to see an end to the crisis. We must do it fast before the next election, so that we can face the enemies outside united,” he said.