KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Kuching branch chairperson Datuk Lily Yong has been referred to the party’s disciplinary committee following the branch’s decision to dissolve its election machinery for Padungan days before the 12th state election on Dec 18.
The disciplinary committee will decide on what action to be taken against Yong.
SUPP president Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian said that Yong must be referred to the disciplinary committee and due process must proceed.
“Otherwise, people will say we are kangaroo court,” he said in a press conference after chairing the party’s Annual Delegates Conference (ADC) 2021 at the SUPP headquarters on Sunday.
He explained that the disciplinary committee would sit and hear the case, investigate and based on its findings, will make recommendations (on what action to be taken against Yong) by the Central Working Committee (CWC).
“If we decide here (during the ADC), then people will say we are a kangaroo court where no investigation has been carried out,” he said.
When asked how long it would take for the disciplinary committee to look into the matter, Dr Sim said, “As long as the committee needs.”
On Dec 13, Yong announced the dissolution of its election machinery for Padungan because the GPS candidate then Datuk Wee Hong Seng was not its recommended candidate for the Padungan seat.
She said two names – Bong Lian Huan and Jong Yean Pin – were submitted to the SUPP Central leadership for consideration and on Dec 2, SUPP president Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian had said that only Jong’s name was submitted to GPS for consideration.
“However, there were other names which appeared on the list the next day. We were shocked as one of the names on the list was not even a member of the Kuching branch and whose party membership was less than three years.
“This is against the party’s Constitution in terms of eligibility to become a candidate on a SUPP ticket. The Kuching branch is very disappointed and felt deceived.
“As such, we regret to inform that the last-minute change of candidate has caused chaos in the branch’s election machinery.
“Many of the helpers have left in disappointment, so we have no choice but to dissolve the branch’s election machinery,” she said.
