Joint Press Statement by SUPP Lambir Branch and SUPP Pujut Branch

suppadmin | February 5, 2014

3rd February, 2014

SUPP Lambir Branch and SUPP Pujut Branch on 3 February 2014 jointly expressed their amazement over the statement by SUPP Sibu Branch chairman, Dato’ Sri Wong Soon Koh, that there were evidence of foul play leading to the de-registration of SUPP Bekenu Branch and SUPP Miri-Piasau Branch.

The two branches stated that Dato’ Sri Wong Soon Koh should know very well what had exactly happened in the two branches and certainly foul play was never the reason for it to be de-registered. It was most regrettable to note that with a minster’s standing, he could utter such a comment knowing full well the facts of the case but chose to twist the facts for his convenience.

Urging Wong not to twist or to mislead the members and the public causing more confusion, Lambir and Pujut branches said Wong should instead tell the truth and let the members and the public made their own judgement. “Do not try to be the judge after all, your mind is already clouded,” said the two branches to Wong.

The facts of the two SUPP Branches, Bekenu and Miri-Piasau, have been released by Party Central before, and they are as follows:

BEKENU BRANCH

As for SUPP Bekenu’s case, in the aftermath of November 2011 Branch election, there was a complaint that three members, who had passed away, were still registered as members in the membership list.

There were a total of 2,151 members in Bekenu Branch.

Article 18 (1) of SUPP Constitution is relevant here.

“18. (1) The Delegates’ Conference shall be held once in every 3-year consisting of:-

(i) the existing members of the Central Committee; and
(ii) Delegates duly elected by the Branches. Each Branch shall be entitled to send one delegate for every 250 members or part thereof provided that every Branch shall be entitled to send at least 2 delegates and at most 70 delegates.”

Let us divide 2151 members in Bekenu Branch by 250 for one delegate, the answer is 8.604 delegates, therefore 9 delegates. Now we take away 3 members who had passed on from 2151 , we get 2148. Divide this 2148 by 250, we have 8.592 delegates, the answer is still 9 delegates.

The three members who passed on would not and indeed did not have any bearing on the election of office bearers of Bekenu Branch as Chin and the other committee members were elected in as Chairman and their respective posts of Bekenu Branch uncontested. Moreover, the three deceased members would not materially affect the number of delegates to be elected to attend the TDC in December 2011 Conference.

Where was the foul play, as alleged by Wong?

MIRI-PIASAU BRANCH

On Miri-Piasau Branch, after the state election on April 16, 2011 when SUPP Party President, Datuk Patinggi Dr. George Chan lost the seat, a group of SUPP Miri-Piasau Branch members persuaded Dato’ Sebastian Ting to transfer his membership from Lambir Branch to Miri-Piasau Branch.

Ting has been a party member since 1986 and he filed in the application for transfer on April 25, 2011. He was then the Chairman of Lambir Branch . The Application for transfer was received by the Party Headquarters on April 29, 2011 and it was approved and signed by the Secretary General, then held by Datuk Sim Kheng Hui.

The complaint made was that Ting’s approval was out of time and not in accordance to the Constitution. However, the rule states that Membership transfers received and approved by the CWC on or before April 30 or on such other date as directed by the CWC in the year of elections shall be registered in the qualifying Register of Members for the elections of the Branch or sub-branch to which the member is transferred.

Since Ting’s transfer application was approved on April 30 2011 by SUPP Party Central and Ting was appointed as Deputy Chairman by the then Miri-Piasau Branch Committee. He served in this capacity until Miri-Piasau Branch election on the 20 November 2011, when he was elected as Chairman of Piasau branch.

Ting’s application is a bona fide application done in good faith and any suggestion of foul play by Wong is just ludicrous and unbelievable.

SUPP Lambir Branch and Pujut Branch are of the opinion that since Wong has made up his mind that a new party be set up to replace SUPP to represent the Chinese Community and that he did not mind to be their adviser, he may as well send his letter of resignation to SUPP Party Central, as his heart is not with SUPP. Majority of the Party members will be very happy with his resignation. They will not cry with his departure.

It is amazing that he continues to say that he loves the party SUPP and his heart is with the party but his actions and press statements are just the opposite. He is all out to destroy SUPP Party. Don’t insult the intelligence of majority of the members and the public.

He should or must:

(1) just cease disturbing SUPP and resign from SUPP.

(2) lead his own Party or he becomes adviser to that new Party, as he has proudly declared as published on the 2nd Day of February 2014 in Borneo Post.