By Stephen Puah
KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian is still reluctant to categorically state if his party is ready to accept United People’s Party (UPP) into Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) fold.
“Whoever applies we will consider. Hopefully all Sarawak-based parties will apply (to join GPS),” he said when asked by reporters after he officiated at Magnum cheque presentation to welfare and charitable homes here yesterday.
When pressed further if SUPP will agree to accept UPP into the fold, Sim who is Local Government and Housing Minister said: “Not just UPP, whoever applies as GPS member we will consider, including DAP Sarawak if they want to apply.”
He gave the same answer when being asked why SUPP was against UPP joining BN in the past.
Under GPS constitution, it only needs three quarter of the members to accept the application of any party to join the coalition.
Earlier in his speech, Sim said everyone can do charity, which need not be in the form of money.
“Voluntary work to help those in need is also charity,” Dr Sim said.
“You don’t have to be rich to do charity. Many people are lonely and they need someone to care of them and make them smile, while some are poor and need your help in different ways.
“Thus everyone can do charity. It’s just a matter of whether you want to do it or not,” he said.
Sim called on children to show their loves and care for their parents, saying he is saddened by news of successful children living overseas leaving their parents alone back home.
“After their parents sent them to study overseas, they remain there, hold good job and get good income while their parents live loike paupers back home,” he said.
Sim commended Magnum for its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy which is based on five key programmes of MagnumCares.
These programmes are Homes Outreach Programme, Community Services, Cepat-Cepat Tolong (an emergency aid programme), Academic Motivation Programme (awarding excellence to students and teachers) and I Can See Clearly Now (employee-run school eye health screening outreach).
