SILENT TREATMENT from Taib Mahmud? No such thing - Peter Chin

MIRI - Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) president Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui has denied his relationship with Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud has gone sour to the extent that both of them are not on talking terms.

"Of course, I am always on talking terms with the Chief Minister, (there has been) no occasion in the past that I felt difficulty talking to him (Taib)," he told reporters at his Chinese New Year open house at his residence here today.

Chin, who is also Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister, admitted there had some "misundertanding" between him and Taib but now these had been cleared up.

Taib, who is also state Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president, were among thousands of visitors who visited Chin's open house today together with Parti Rakyat Bersatu (PRS) president Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing.

Taib's Chinese New Year visit to Chin's residence was his first since the latter became SUPP president in December 2011, following his absence during SUPP's Chinese New Year open house at the party's headquarters last year in Kuching, although later the Chief Minister explained that his absence was due to health reasons.

His absence sparked a year-long speculation that relationship between Chin and Taib has became shaky, which hinted that Taib disapproved SUPP's current leadership.

However, all the speculation was put to rest Taib's visit. Chin won uncontested as SUPP president was shrouded with controversies when his opponent, the state's Second Finance Minister and SUPP Sibu branch chief Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh alleged that there was hanky-panky during elections at the branch level, resulting Wong boycotting the election.

Asked on his discussions with Taib, who spent 30 minutes at his residence, Chin said, Taib gave his commitment that PBB would support SUPP in any way it could in the upcoming 13th general election.

"My whole conversation with him touched on the need for us to show unity, working with all BN component parties, not just for SUPP but for BN (Barisan Nasional)," he said.

He said Taib's parting advice was to work extra hard to get Chinese voters' support in the general election.

– Bernama