RESOLVE the dispute between the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and its rebellious former members in the United People’s Party (UPP) before the general election.

This was the task Barisan Nasional chairman Najib Razak has given to Sarawak Chief Minister and state BN chairman Abang Johari Openg, in a bid to resolve a long-standing problem plaguing the ruling coalition.

At its triennial delegates conference yesterday, the SUPP had passed a resolution opposing the BN practice of fielding so-called direct candidates.

These direct candidates were fielded in the last state election in constituencies disputed by SUPP and UPP.

In closing the SUPP TDC in Kuching today, Najib said a united party would perform better in the general election.

“You must have a united front if you want to deliver,” the prime minister said.

“We need a strong SUPP.

“I don’t care about what colour shirt you wear, I am only concerned about having a strong party that will be the party of choice for the people of Sarawak,” Najib said in reference to the yellow shirt SUPP supporters often sport at public functions and when doing social work.

He said from a party that was near death – referring to SUPP’s dismal performance in the last general election where it won only one of the seven seats it contested to the tumultuous 2014 TDC, which nearly led to its deregistration – a new vibe is surfacing in the party today.

The 59-year-old SUPP is the oldest political party in the state and came close to closing shop when former deputy secretary-general Wong Soon Koh disputed the manner in which the 2014 TDC was conducted.

He triggered a Registrar of Societies (RoS) investigation after lodging a complaint with it.

When the RoS found no wrongdoing, Wong and his supporters, who included four other state assemblymen, left and formed UPP.

Even though UPP is not a member of BN, it is eyeing three seats in and around the BN stronghold of Sibu – Lanang, Bandar Sibu and Sarikei. – December 23, 2017.