Why aren’t you asking PM, Chin?

IF SUPP president Peter Chin refuses to meet Najib over the 'Oct 11 meeting', it would just mean that he had defied the prime minister's directive not to sack party members.

KUCHING: The only way to resolve the impasse between factions in Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) is for president Peter Chin to meet with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and clarify the “Oct 11 meeting” the premier had with rival Wong Soon Koh and team.

The continued “refusal” by Chin to clarify matters with Najib will only mean that he defied the latter’s directive, said SUPP Sibu branch yesterday.

Calling for Chin to clear the air, the branch said in a statement it was not right for Chin to “brush aside” members’ concerns in view of the impending general election.

“As a responsible leader and federal cabinet member, Chin has ample opportunity to meet our prime minister.

“Chin should find out more [about the Oct 11 meeting] rather than brush aside his obligation by saying that he is clueless about the directive.

“If Chin refuses to gain a better understanding of the issue, it goes to show that he is either avoiding the issue on purpose or could not bring himself to face the prime minister for defying the directive,” the statement noted.

The statement also took Chin to task for his flippant “I was not at the meeting, how could I possibly know [what transpired]” comment.

“[Chin] not having attended the meeting need not mean that he was not informed of the crucial directive. During the meeting, the prime minister had repeatedly stressed that no party members were to be sacked.

“If Chin has any doubts, then he should seek clarification from the top.”

Unresolved issue

SUPP is divided and healing seems next to impossible. Both leaders – seen here as state versus federal – have been at each other’s throat since before the presidential polls in December which saw Chin throw in his challenge at the last minute and Wong alleging irregularities in branch level elections.

Despite the allegations, presidential polls were held and Chin won. Wong and his team of state assemblymen held back, claiming that the polls were illegal as the party was under investigation by the Registrar of Societies.

In early November, the party’s “new” disciplinary committee sacked two Wong-aligned grassroot leaders – Wong Kie Yong (Sarikei) and Hii Huat Chuong (Bintagor) – breaking what Wong said was an “assurance” from Najib that there would be no witch-hunt.

Both Kie Yong and Hii had allegedly questioned the integrity of the Chin-led leadership.

According to Wong, Najib had given his word to him and 35 others including branch leaders on Oct 11 when they met.

“On Oct 11, 36 of us, including other branch leaders, went to meet the prime minister. The prime minister personally guaranteed that no one would be sacked in SUPP as we should all focus on winning the coming general election.

“Wong [Kie Yong] who was fighting to stand in Sarikei had asked Najib directly if he could continue to campaign in Sarikei. Najib did not object and gave him the guarantee that he would not be expelled,” Wong reportedly said earlier this month.

Since then there has been a volley of statements from both sides, with Chin denying any knowledge of the directive.