Taib has no plans to have more non-elected reps

SUPP's two elected representatives will now be the sole Chinese voice in Taib Mahmud's Cabinet.

KUCHING: Chief Minister Taib Mahmud is satisfied with Sarawak United Peoples Party’s (SUPP) two Chinese assemblymen and sees no reason to amend the state constitution to accommodate more non-elected representatives.

Describing the question posed by reporters as “theoretical”, he dismissed speculations that the state government will move to amend the constitution for bigger Chinese representation in the Cabinet.

“No, I am not going to entertain such theoretical question…,” he said, putting an end to a suggestion by Barisan Nasional (BN) Senator Idris Buang.

Idris had suggested that the state government consider amending the constitution to accommodate Chinese non-elected representatives following the dismal performance of the Chinese-majority SUPP in the April 16 state polls.

SUPP lost 13 seats, in predominantly Chinese areas, to the opposition in the election. It only managed to retain six seats, four of which were in Dayak areas.

Declining to further comment on the issue, Taib said the matter was over.

Sources said it was on Taib’s advice that SUPP deputy secretary-general Wong Soon Koh took the oath and was sworn in.

Wong’s decision, however, came under heavy criticism from SUPP’s central working committee (CWC) which ruled on April 18 that both its Chinese elected representatives – Wong (Bawang Assan) and Lee Kim Shin (Senadin) – should not accept positions in the state Cabinet.

As the Chinese community had rejected the party in favour of DAP, it was felt that there was little dignity in accepting such posts.

More Dayaks, please

However, SUPP president Dr George Chan has been quick to defend Wong and Lim, saying that Chinese representation was still needed as a sizeable percentage of Chinese supporters had supported the BN.

Chan and several CWC members had lost their seats to the DAP in last month’s election.

Wong has since been reappointed as full minister and Lee as assistant minister.

Rumours are rife that Wong will assume Chan’s position as deputy chief minister in Taib’s new lineup, which is expected to be announced in July.

A Universiti Malaysia Sarawak senior political analyst Jeniri Amir is hoping that the new state Cabinet line-up will reflect the Dayak support for BN.

There are currently seven vacancies in the Sarawak cabinet, including the post of deputy chief minister.

Four of these posts were held by former SUPP assemblymen – David Teng, Soon Choon Teck and Tan Joo Phoi. All three lost their seats.

The others who previously held positions were Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party’s (SPDP) Peter Nyarok Entrie and Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu’s (PBB) Abdul Abang Rauf Zen.

Former assistant minister Larry Sng, who is still party-less, was fielded by BN in the state polls.

SUPP’s four Dayak representatives won their seats in the latest polls. They are Francis Harden (Simanggan), Jerip Susil (Bengoh), Ranum Mina (Opar) and Johnical Rayong (Engkilili).

Currently, Harden is an assistant minister.

Jeniri is hopeful that Susil will also be appointed as an assistant minister.