SIBU: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) leaders are urged to increase training, exposure and orientation for their members to foster loyalty within the party, according to party veteran Datuk Dr Soon Choon Teck.
“This is to avoid the problem of party hopping,” Dr Soon, who is also SUPP Dudong Branch honorary advisor, told reporters after attending SUPP’s 65th Anniversary Celebration at the SUPP Sibu headquarters here today (June 4).
Dr Soon said party leaders should recruit young people from various races, particularly Chinese and Iban.
“[New members] should also be given exposure training for the orientation course.
“Tell them why they want to join the party, to serve the party, the people and the government,” he added.
SUPP Sibu consists of six branches: SUPP Bukit Assek Branch, SUPP Dudong Branch, SUPP Nangka Branch, SUPP Bawang Assan Branch, SUPP Pelawan Branch, and SUPP Sibu Jaya Branch.
Dr Soon, a former Dudong assemblyman and Assistant Minister during the leadership of the late Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, stressed the importance of training young party members.
“The future of Sarawak belongs to them.
“If you don’t have training, motivation and deep exposure in the party struggle, I think you will jump ship later,” he said.
Dr. Soon said a lack of training could lead to frustration and party hopping, especially if members lose positions like Penghulu, Kapitan, and Councillor.
Dr Soon also shared his own experience, having joined SUPP in 1962 at the age of 19, just three years after the party’s establishment in 1959.
“My hope is that SUPP’s current performance can be maintained.
“Of course, the party faces challenges, its performance fluctuates, but now it’s good to be in second place in Sarawak after PBB (Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu),” he added.
The event saw Dr. Soon leading around 300 attending members in chanting the party slogan ‘Sa’ati’ and participating in a flag-raising ceremony.
Also present were Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng Jin Ek, SUPP Bukit Assek Branch chairman Datuk Chieng Buong Tuong, SUPP Dudong Branch chairman Wong Ching Yong, SUPP Nangka Branch chairman Benson Chua, and SUPP Bawang Assan Community Development team leader Cr Kevin Lau Kor Jie.
