SEVEN incumbent assemblymen from Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) will be defending their seats in the 12th Sarawak state elections, party secretary-general Sebastian Ting said today.

He said SUPP will be submitting the names of the seven to Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman Abang Johari Openg soon.

“SUPP has decided that all seven incumbents who won in the 11th Sarawak elections will be named as candidates for the upcoming polls,” he told reporters after a media pre-launch of Batik Linut in Miri today.

Apart from Ting, who is standing in Piasau, the others are SUPP president Dr Sim Kui Hian (Batu Kawa); vice-president Lee Kim Shin (Senadin), Ding Kuong Hiing (Meradong), Huang Tiong Sii (Repok), Francis Harden Hollis (Simanggang) and Lo Khere Chiang (Batu Kitang).

GPS comprises Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, Parti Rakyat Sarawak, SUPP and Parti Demokratik Progresif.

On October 24, the coalition’s secretary-general, Alexander Nanta Linggi said GPS will be contesting in all 82 Sarawak state constituencies.

Commenting further, Ting said in the last Sarawak elections, SUPP was allocated 20 seats and he hoped the party would be getting the same number of seats this time.

“All party machinery is ready. We will learn from the Malacca state elections as they are the first to carry out polls under the new normal announced by the Election Commission that gatherings that are usually held during campaigning are not be allowed,” he said.

“I believe the Malacca elections will be the guideline for all parties contesting in Sarawak polls.”

On the move by Sarawak PAS, which has confirmed it is contesting in 11 seats in the Sarawak elections, Ting said from now until nomination day, anything can happen.

“We have heard many stories… but we can only verify the matter on nomination day,” he said. – Bernama, November 6, 2021.