by Kong See Hoh The Sun April 25, 2011
KUCHING (April 24, 2011): FOLLOWING Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s remark that Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) has no right to stop its deputy secretary-general Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh from accepting a state cabinet minister post, all eyes are on whether the beleaguered Bawang Assan assemblyman would quit the party to become a direct member of the state Barisan Nasional (BN).
Wong had earlier dismissed as rumour the talk that he would be setting up a new party after falling foul of the party’ central working committee (CWC) for having sworn in as a cabinet minister.
In view of the party’s dismay performance in the recent state election due to a drop in support from the Chinese, the CWC has decided to recommend only the party’s Dayak assemblymen for cabinet jobs and not the two Chinese assemblymen who survived the DAP onslaught in the polls.
According to a report in Oriental Daily News today, although some of the party’s top leaders are vehemently against Wong remaining in the cabinet in defiance of the CWC decision, Wong has already been sworn in and there is no turning back the clock.
Furthermore, Taib has also made it very clear that he is firm in retaining Wong in his cabinet.
Taib broke his silence on the matter when he said on Thursday that no one, not even SUPP, has the right to stop Wong from staying in the cabinet.
Under pressure from within the party and outside – MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek is among those who have urged Wong not to accept a government post — the guessing game in the state political circle is whether Wong would leave the party to become a direct BN member.
Meanwhile, MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said if the party does not have the support of the Chinese voters in the next general election, it will not be able to represent the community, and BN would also become weaker, Sin Chew Daily reported today.
Commenting on the situation in Sarawak in which the Chinese voters ditched Chinese-based SUPP in favour of DAP in the recent state election, Liow said the scenario is different in the peninsula in that all BN component parties work as one to fulfil the wishes of the people.
Liow was speaking to the press after launching the 1Malaysia Mobile Clinic Eye Care Services Collaboration in Slim River on Saturday.
Taking the cue from Sarawak, he said the bulk of the seats to be contested by MCA are in the urban areas, and the party needs to change or transform in accordance to the wishes of the Chinese voters.
This is to ensure continued support from the community, and ensure victory in the next general election, he said.