Is SUPP’s David Teng going for the kill?

SUPP president George Chan's preferred successor, Wong Soon Koh, may not survive a straight fight against grassroots 'hero' David Teng.

KUCHING: After being overlooked and sidelined for more than 28 years, Sarawak United Peoples Party (SUPP) treasurer, David Teng may well be gunning for the party presidency.

The spiciest rumour here yet, is that Teng is finally ready to risk all.

But the mood at the helm of the ailing party, which suffered a humiliating defeat in the April 16 state election, is far from supportive.

Incumbent George Chan is dead against Teng’s bid. He wants Teng to quit the party along with other old guards.

Chan has tendered his reignation and so too has party secretary-general Sim Kheng Hui. But they were asked to stay on till the Triennial Delegates Conference in December.

Nonetheless Chan still wants the ‘old guards’ to follow him and Sim, paving the way for younger blood to take over the leadership.

But not many ‘old guards’, who have toiled for the party and waited patiently for their time in the spotlight, are prepared to quit.

Many among them are also supportive of Teng’s plans. The party, they feel, has been unfair to Teng.

In the shadow

Since 1983, Teng, they said, had been overlooked for full ministership and other top party posts.

Bearing this in mind, some 28 branches and more than 50% of 123 members of Central committee (CC) – whose call for a Special Delegates Conference to solve the current leadership problem in the party was thwarted by Chan - have thrown their support behind Teng.

But Teng, when pushed for a confirmation of whether he was contesting or not, was evasive.

He dismissed the talk as “press speculations”.

“It’s just press speculation… I am only selling ideas on the future direction of the party. The members are entitled to have their opinions and choice of leadership,” said Teng, former Repok assemblyman.

He however did admit that some members have been campaigning for his ideas.

These members also believed that Chan, being the president, should be held solely responsibility for the party’s dismal performance in the state polls.

SUPP lost 13 of its 19 seats.

Only two SUPP Chinese leaders – Wong Soon Koh (Bawang Assan) and Lee Kim Shin (Senadin) retained their seats. The four other seats were won by the Dayak majority constituencies.

Teng blames the party’s failures in the polls on the loss of its direction.

“Something must have gone wrong. I cannot say it publicly. Let us discuss the problems within the party.

“That is the proper forum. We must not be seen quarrelling.

“If we quarrel over ideas or direction, it should be considered as a positive sign for the party, ” he said.

Party needs direction

Explaining his priorities, Teng said the party needed direction.

“It is most important for the party to decide or set its direction first. That is the priority.

“Whoever they want as the leader, to me, that is the second stage.

“The priority now is direction and and true unity in the party.

“Otherwise, our party unity is hollow and superficial,” he stressed.

Meanwhile word is that it will be a straight fight between Teng and Chan’s favoured successor, Wong Soon Koh.

Chan’s backing for Wong is partly because he is a minister who should represent not only the party, but also the Chinese community in the state government.

As a minister, Wong may also have the support of the four elected Dayak leaders – Francis Harden (Sri Aman), Johnichal Rayong (Engkilili), Jerip Susil (Bengoh) and Ranom Mina (Opar) as well as the MP for Serian Richard Riot.

But whether their division delegates will vote for Wong is another question.

Sources here revealed that support for Wong is strong in Sibu, Miri, Bintulu and Limbang, while Teng is strong in Sarikei, Bintangor, Kuching, Simanggang, Engkilili and other smaller towns.

Bad history

Disagreements between Teng and Chan began in 2006 after Chan failed to handle problems in the party especially the ‘Dudong’ problem which has dragged on until this day and it has threatened party unity.

Basically, the problem involved the formation of the Dudong branch by Soon Choon Teck. The branch was to separated from the Sibu branch.

The formation of the branch was strongly objected to by Wong, who is chairman of the Sibu branch.

According to Wong, forming a Dudong branch was unconstitutional.

Chan failed to resolve the problem resulting in the loss of the parliamentary seat of Sibu in a by-election in May 2010.

The problem was also said to be the reason behind SUPP’s devastating defeat in the recent April state electione.

Many leaders including Teng have blamed Chan for his flip-flop decision and lack of direction and vision.

According to Johnathan Krai, an influential member of the Engkilili branch, only Teng can pull the party together.

“It is high time that Teng be elected to restore unity and dignity to the party,” he said.