MIRI: The Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) has always faced tough challenges in urban constituencies, disclosed its secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew.
“Despite the challenges, we in SUPP will work hard to ensure that our candidates win and most importantly we must be with the people all the time,” he said after officiating at Saberkas Piasau career carnival held at a leading hotel here on Saturday.
Ting who is the incumbent for Piasau was commenting on the party’s preparations for Sarawak’s 12th state election for which polling will be held on December 18.
Also present was Miri mayor Adam Yii who is also SUPP Pujut chairman.
Ting added contests in the town areas have always been challenging and tough including Piasau.
When asked on SUPP candidate for Pujut, Ting said it would be announced by the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg on December 4.
“On that matter (SUPP candidate for Pujut) we will have to wait for my ‘boss’ Abang Johari to announce it in Kuching,” he disclosed.
On Friday, Ting together with Datuk Sri Lee Kim Shin, the incumbent for Senadin and Yii had bought the nomination forms in preparation for the upcoming polls.
In the 11th state election in 2016, Lee retained the seat by securing 10, 683 votes, defeaingd his opponents – Bob Baru Langup of Democratic Action Party (DAP) who garnered 7,145 votes and Philemon John Edan of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB) (329 votes).
Meanwhile Ting won the Piasau seat after defeating Alan Ling of Democratic Action Party (DAP) by a majority of 2,112 votes.
Miri mayor Adam Yii who has been speculated to stand in Pujut seat has kept mum on the issue, saying that it’s up to the top leadership to decide on his candidacy.
The Pujut seat was won by DAP (Dr Ting Tiong Choon) who was disqualified for having dual citizenship last year, leaving the Pujut seat vacant since then.
