Chin looking at Adenan to cure SUPP of its internal crisis

KUCHING: Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) president Tan Sri Peter Chin Fah Kui (pix) is looking at the newly minted Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem to cure the party of its serious internal problems.
"Yes, we badly need outside help from someone, like the chief minister, to get the party together, and work out a proper resolution," Chin said today.

"Adenan has indicated to me that he likes to see me, and I will go and see him, but he did not say when," the former federal Minister of Science, Green Technology and Water said.

"I am confident that he can help us to put our party together," he added.

Former chief minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who is now Sarawak's Yang di-Pertua Negeri, had tried for the last two years to help find a solution to SUPP's internal problems, but failed.

Chin stressed that Adenan should be able to help any Barisan Nasional component parties to resolve their problems because he has the necessary experience.

He said that under Adenan's leadership as chief minister and State Barisan Nasional chairman, SUPP will be able to strengthen its position as a component party.

"Under his leadership, we hope to be able to perform better in the next state election, which is due on June 20, 2016," he said.

The split of SUPP into two factions, one led by Chin and the other by Sibu branch chairman and State Minister of Local Government and Community Development Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh, was largely blamed for its disastrous showing of the April 16, 2011 state election.

The party lost 13 out of 19 seats it contested, mostly to its traditional enemy, the Sarawak DAP. Among those who lost was former deputy chief minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan.

In the May 5, 2013 general election, the party was almost wiped out. It managed to win only one seat and lost in seven others.

Chin said that the party's triennial general assembly (TGA) to elect new office bearers will be brought forward, instead of in December this year.

"The sooner we elect our new leadership, the better it is for the party," he said, adding that holding the TGA earlier will be good for the party.

He said that he will not be defending his post at the TGA, but will let someone else to take over.

He said he had already made his decision known when he wanted to step down from his post to accept full responsibility for the party's poor showings in last year's general election.

Chin said the party's central working committee told him to hang on as party president until the next TGA is held.