KUCHING: The United People’s Party (UPP) will remain as an independent party and assures all its members that the leadership is fully committed to protecting the interests of the party and all its members, said its secretary-general, George Lo.
“UPP is a part of the Sarawak State Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Haji Johari Tun Abang Haji Openg and we pledge our full support for his leadership of the State and is fully committed to work with the Sarawak State Government in the pursuit of the restoration of all rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963,” Lo said.
In a meeting chaired by UPP president, Dato’ Sri Wong soon Koh at UPP headquarters here yesterday, Lo said they extended their heartiest congratulations to Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad on his election as Prime Minister of Malaysia and the Pakatan Harapan alliance on their success in the recently concluded General Elections.
He also said the party pledges its support to the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir and his administration and will examine all ways in which they can work with the Federal Government for the betterment of Malaysia as a whole and for Sarawak in particular.
“UPP will also support the Federal Government in reforms that will bring about: (a) restoration of the independence and integrity of the judiciary, the anti-corruption agency and the police force, (b) restoration of freedom of speech and freedom of the media (c) promotions in the Judiciary and in the civil service based on merits and seniority and not on favouritism or race, (d) removal of GST which hits hardest on those least able to afford it and the implementation of an equitable tax system that will assist the poor and promote strong economic growth by making Malaysia competitive in the region, (e) crackdown on corruption which has impoverished the nation and the re-direction of the country’s wealth to education and health-care where it is seriously needed (particularly for the dilapidated schools and over-crowded hospitals in Sarawak), (f) the eradication of racial and religious disharmony which had reared its ugly heads in recent years because some myopic politicians had played the racial and religious card in order to gain support; and finally (g) the restoration of pride in all of us so that we can hold our heads high and tell the world that we are Malaysians first, regardless of our race,” he said, adding that UPP leaders will, in the coming days, explore all avenues to collaborate with other political parties with the interests of Sarawak as its primary objective and the interests of all Malaysians in general. In the recent general election, UPP sole candidate, Dato Andrew Wong who stood under SUPP/BN ticket in Lanang parliamentary constituency lost to Oscar Ling of DAP by a 11,442- vote majority.
