G.Thomas
MIRI: Councillor Jeffery Phang, the likely candidate for Gabungan Parti Sarawak for Miri parliamentary constituency, may be a new kid in the block but he can count on support and backing from his experienced Sarawak United People’s Party seniors.
Phang, 48, who has held various council positions before, is making his rounds throughout the constituency to meet-and-greet voters.
In each of his rounds to the markets and coffeeshops and commercial centres, he is backed up by teams adorned in the yellow SUPP attire.
He is often seen with Mayor Adam Yii who is the assemblyman for Pujut, as well as SUPP secretary general Datuk Sebastian Ting, SUPP deputy president Datuk Lee Kim Shin and SUPP office bearers when he goes to the streets to meet residents.
Phang is branch secretary of Senadin SUPP of which Lee is chairman.
Lee is the assemblyman for Senadin and also State Transport Minister.
Ting is assemblyman for Piasau and Deputy State Minister for Tourism, Culture and Performing Arts.
In each of the Pujut, Piasau and Senadin SUPP branches, they have councillors too.
SUPP also has many party members holding posts in community bodies and non governmental organisations such as Rukun Tetangga and neighbourhood residents committees.
They are also well represented in business organisations, not to mention Chinese ethnic bodies.
With this solid SUPP backing throughout Miri, Phang will be supported strongly should he be chosen by GPS chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg as the GPS candidate to win back Miri from Parti Keadilan Rakyat
The PKR incumbent MP for Miri is Dr Michael Teo Yu Keng who is two term MP and seeking his third term as the PKR candidate for Sarawak Pakatan Harapan.
The official campaigning will only start after nomination.
Miri has up to 143,000 voters for this 15th General Election, a sizeable increase from the 86,000 voters in GE14.
The Election Commission has confirmed that Miri has the highest number of voters among the 31 parliament seats in Sarawak.
