MIRI: Another Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) component is looking into bringing younger people on board to participate in the political process in the state.
Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) on Wednesday (Jan 12), said a new wing catering specifically for youths aged 18-28 would be set up to give the younger lot an opportunity to engage in the political arena and consequently get exposed to meaningful participation in decision-making at all levels.
“Their participation is crucial in building a stable society and making sure that new policies are inclusive, meeting the needs of everyone including the younger generations,” said party secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew who made the announcement in a statement.
“Very often you hear people say that young people may not be interested in politics but on the contrary, my personal experiences with some young people whom I met are keen to chit-chat about politics and government policies,” he said, adding more opportunities should therefore be made available for them to participate.
Indeed, they are the source for new, creative, fresh ideas and new approaches for government to tap into for innovation and improved services, said Ting.
The SUPP decision comes in the heels of a similar decision taken by GPS backbone Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) over the weekend.
It is aimed at harnessing their potential as the party re-invents itself to stay relevant especially with the implementation of Undi18 which will see the involvement of younger people in the electoral process.
Like PBB, the SUPP will also be seeking to amend its party constitution to allow for the establishment of this new wing.
“We need to amend our party constitution and this requires approval from the party delegates in the Annual Delegates Conference (ADC) or Triennial Delegates Conference (TDC),” explained Ting.
“At our next Central Working Committee meeting we will form a special committee to look into the formation of this new wing before we present and seek the approval in the Delegates Conference to amend our constitution,” he said.
It is not likely to be on time to be tabled at the party’s forthcoming ADC on January 16 but should be ready for this year’s Triennial Delegates Conference (TDC).
Ting said the party had also thought of looking into the formation a Putri Wing for female members aged 18 to 28 but it was postponed due to the then impending state election.
“Since the election is over, our party will re-visit this proposal,” he added.
