KUCHING: The state election will most likely be held early, said Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting.
“Due to the festive seasons in 2021, it’s possible that the state election would be held earlier…in 2020, who knows?”
Ting, who is the Tourism, Arts and Culture Assistant Minister, added that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)-led state government’s term would expire in June 2021, which meant that polls must be held in the same month.
“If we look at the 2021 calendar, Chinese New Year will be between January and February, which is unlikely that an election be held,” Ting said at the Stakan SUPP annual general meeting (AGM) dinner last Tuesday at Hoi Tin Lau Restaurant, Aeroville Mall.
“In March, maybe there will not be any (election) and looking at April, it is the Ramadan month. After that, it will be Hari Raya Aidilfitri in May.
“Hence you look at this, it will be very likely that election will be held next year because 2020 is not too far already,” he opined.
Regarding SUPP, he said the party must always be ready and “even though there is no SUPP member representing Stakan, the community must work together with Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Stakan assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohammad Ali Mahmud.”
“We have to work hand in hand with GPS component parties (SUPP, PBB, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
“Because we are four local-based parties, which means that we can look after our own state better,” he said.
Stakan SUPP chairman Cr Sim Kiang Chiok further added that the branch would be going on a recruitment drive.
“We will be doing so for a period of five months until March 2020.
“Therefore, we urge all members to find five new members each before the end of March 2020, which means you have to find one member each month. I think that is a very doable and responsible approach,” he said.
Sim added that they would be meeting as a branch on Jan 12 when they launch their new office at East Gate City, 9th Mile, Jalan Penrissen.
