Kuching SUPP publishes first issue of branch’s newsletter

KUCHING: The Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Kuching Branch published its first newsletter on Friday (May 12), containing information and political commentary on the branch’s activities in Mandarin and English.

According to its publicity and information secretary Peter Pui, the newsletter was free for party members to request and read.

“In the first page, there is a speech by chairman Datuk Lily Yong and political comments representing the position of the branch.

“The article points out that in the face of the upcoming parliamentary election, the joint committee composed of the three branches in Kuching must first negotiate and send out potential candidates to jointly support to win the old congressional constituency.

“In addition, the party news also reported the list of executive committee members elected by the branch, youth and women’s divisions, as well as pictures of the branch’s activities of distributing food and supplies to the people during the pandemic.”

Pui also said that the party news published senior party leader Huang Jilin’s insights on “carrying forward the traditional culture of SUPP.”

“In the party constitution, the purpose and objectives of the party were explained. When SUPP was established in 1959, the goal was to strive for self-government and independence of Sarawak.

“After Sarawak jointly formed Malaysia in 1963, the party constitution added the promotion and defence of Sarawak’s rights and interests within the scope of Malaysia, which is in line with today’s Sarawak government’s negotiation for strengthening its autonomy in accordance with MA63.

“Recently, the Ministry of Education sent a letter to all national-type primary schools in Sarawak to conduct a questionnaire in Jawi, whether to extend the Jawi language from grade 4 to grade 5 and 6. This move had generated strong opposition from Sarawak Dong Zong.”

He then said the party news was at the right time, and published the historical data of the 2019 Pakatan Harapan government, which insisted on incorporating Jawi into the 4th grade curriculum of Chinese primary schools.

“The party news pointed out that the 42 Democratic Action Party (DAP) MPs were either quiet or in various ways far-fetched reasons echoed.”

Pui hoped that the party members and the public would make full use of this newsletter to educate themselves politically and socially.

“Whether it is political commentary or criticism from the public, contributions are welcomed to increase the content of the party news.”

Kuching SUPP publicity and information vice-secretary Jong Zhen Xiang also took the opportunity to invite Kuching Branch members, sub-branch members, Padungan JKKK members, women section, youth section and all new members to attend a gathering at Tai Pan Cafe, Padungan here on May 14 from 5.30pm to 8pm.