When the then SUPP president, Dr Wong Soon Kai lost to DAP’s Wong Ho Leng in Bukit Assek in the 1996 state election with a mere 226 votes majority, the former Deputy Chief Minister described it as unexpected when interviewed by an English daily right after the election.
Puzzlement was written all over the faces of the party members then on why the illustrious son of Sibu could lose in the election to his relatively young lawyer opponent.
Even Ho Leng who had during the ceramah prior to the polling day described his chances of toppling Dr Wong as almost impossible, likening it to an egg and a rock.
Not only did the party lose the Bukit Assek seat then, it also lost Pelawan, Meradong and Kidurong as well.
The result sealed the illustrious political career of Dr Wong as the Deputy Chief Minister who later stepped down as the president of SUPP in its delegate’s conference at the end of that year.
Taking over from Dr Wong was his secretary general, Dr George Chan Hong Nam who helms the party until today.
The loss of four seats in the 1996 state election was however only a temporary setback for SUPP which, under the presidency of Dr Chan was fast enough to recoup when it captured all the seats it lost in the subsequent state election in 2001 except Kidurong, which remains with the DAP until today.
But two years ago in 2006 state election, SUPP suffered its most devastating outing in the election when it lost eight seats out of the 19 seats contested, a result which no one in the party could ever fathom.
The highest casualty was in the state capital where the party lost all the urban seats namely Padungan, Pending, Batu Lintang and Kota Sentosa while other casualties were in Bukit Assek, Kidurong, Meradong and Engkilili.
It was a reminiscence of the setback it suffered in 1996 state election which prompted calls from within the party for the leadership to be held responsible for the electoral debacle.
The results sent chills throughout the peninsular Barisan Nasional (BN) Chinese dominant parties like MCA and Gerakan of a much anticipated chain reaction which was bound to hit them in the looming general election.
True enough, the March 8 political tsunami almost wiped out Gerakan where it only won two parliamentary seats namely Gerik and Simpang Renggam out of the 12 seats contested.
Gerakan also lost the Penang state government to its arch rival, DAP which finally gained the state after three failed attempts by its supremo, Lim Kit Siang.
MCA, on the other hand only managed to win 19 parliamentary seats out of the 32 seats it contested with some of its senior leaders toppled in the political tsunami which hit the whole BN coalition.
However, SUPP was lucky enough to sustain the onslaught as suffered by its brethren across the South China Sea in the March 8 general election by retaining six seats except that of Bandar Kuching where SUPP Youth Chief, Alan Sim lost to DAP’s Chong Chieng Jen in an incomprehensible majority of 9,952 votes.
The majorities in all other seats the party won had been slashed to almost half, thus ringing the alarm bell of a much needed soul searching.
It would be grossly unfair nevertheless for one to be so quick to sink into opinion that the party has in no way contributed to the development of the state and the well being of the people.
While Chinese politics is always akin to pendulum which may swing left or right, but the trend seems to be consistent since the 2006 state election, that people want change and their voices to be heard.
If in the past, promises of development alone may hold the key to the survival in politics, in this 21st century where people are well read and well travelled and having exposed to the outside world, such promises or that of unity call may no longer appeal to the young generation.
Politicians from both the divides must appreciate the fact that the young generation who are born after independence did not go through the trials and tribulations which our forefathers had gone through.
The so-called Generation-Y is looking at the world and how their life should be charted in a different lens.
It is commendable however that soon after the 2006 state election and the internal crisis it encountered arising over the Kuching City South Council mayorship issue, SUPP was quick enough to come out with its forward plan to reform and rejuvenate the party.
There is no point for certain quarters in the party to keep rejoicing the nostalgia of how it had contributed immensely to the development of the state for the past decades as what is pertinent now is to understand the new paradigm shift which has swept across the nation’s political landscape.
Transparency, accountability, good governance, a just and fair society as well as the judiciary independence among others are some of the ideals which have taken the centre stage in Malaysian politics.
The March 8 general election has given Malaysians an alternative in the form of Pakatan Rakyat and that BN is no longer indefeasible if it is not moving in tandem with the people’s aspirations.
The voters this time around had voted for a change which transcends the ethnic line for a new idealism.
SUPP must be quick enough to understand the ideals and aspirations of the young generation and act like a chameleon if it must to suit the changing time in the new chapter of Malaysian politics.
It must be seen to be moving in tandem with the people’s aspirations and be in the forefront to champion what is rightfully theirs as failure to do so is tantamount to betraying the people’s faith and trust entrusted to the party.
While any effort to rejuvenate and reform the party is almost welcome, the leadership must not ever forget the very tenets of the party constitution which has been its guiding principle all along.
To recap, the objects of the party among others are to establish by constitutional means a fair, just and equal society for all peoples irrespective of their racial origin or creed.
To secure and maintain the establishment of a government based on parliamentary democracy.
To promote and ensure economic, educational and cultural advancement of all races and particularly to improve the economic condition of those who are economically backward.
To maintain, foster and promote goodwill, racial harmony and unity of all races and to inspire the people with spirit of self reliance and endeavour.
Perhaps the tenets as enshrined in the party constitution could shed some lights to the party in its attempt to gain the people’s trust and support once again.
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