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The Sarawak United Peoples' Party, or SUPP (; ms, Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak;
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: ''Gerempong Sa'ati Rayat Sarawak'') is a multiracial centre-right local political party of Malaysia based in
Sarawak Sarawak (; ) is a state of Malaysia. The largest among the 13 states, with an area almost equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak is located in northwest Borneo Island, and is bordered by the Malaysian state of Sabah to the northeast, ...
. The SUPP president is Dr. Sim Kui Hian. He succeeded the post from his predecessor,
Peter Chin Fah Kui Peter Chin Fah Kui (; born 31 August 1945) is a former Malaysian politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Miri from 1985 to 2013 and served from 2004 to 2013 as a minister in the federal cabinet. From 2011 to 2014 he was the president o ...
in 2014. Established in 1959, SUPP is the first political party in
Sarawak Sarawak (; ) is a state of Malaysia. The largest among the 13 states, with an area almost equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak is located in northwest Borneo Island, and is bordered by the Malaysian state of Sabah to the northeast, ...
. It has its roots in
left Left may refer to: Music * ''Left'' (Hope of the States album), 2006 * ''Left'' (Monkey House album), 2016 * "Left", a song by Nickelback from the album '' Curb'', 1996 Direction * Left (direction), the relative direction opposite of right * ...
-leaning ideologies, nationalism and championing for the cause of the working class. Formerly it was one of the Sarawak component members of
Barisan Nasional The National Front ( ms, Barisan Nasional; abbrev: BN) is a political coalition of Malaysia that was founded in 1973 as a coalition of centre-right and right-wing political parties. It is also the third largest political coalition with 30 ...
from 1970 until June 2018.Specifically, Barisan Nasional Sarawak (BN Sarawak) consists of only 4 locally-based parties, in that they exist and operate exclusively in Sarawak. The 3 other local parties are Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), and Sarawak People’s Democratic Party (SPDP). Together with other Sarawak-based BN component parties, SUPP always has had tension in its relationship with its Peninsula-based partners. After the 2018 general election defeat of BN had proven that the model was no longer viable, and following a key meeting between all Sarawak-based BN coalition parties on 12 June 2018, SUPP has decided to leave BN to co-form a new Sarawak-based coalition of
Gabungan Parti Sarawak The Sarawak Parties Alliance ( Malay: ''Gabungan Parti Sarawak''; abbrev: GPS) is a Sarawak-based national political alliance in Malaysia. It was established in 2018 by four former Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties operating solely in S ...
.


History

Being the first local political party, Sarawak United Peoples' Party's origins are tied to Sarawak's history of 20th century political awakening. After World War II, the last Rajah of Sarawak,
Charles Vyner Brooke Vyner, Rajah of Sarawak, GCMG, full name Charles Vyner de Windt Brooke (26 September 1874 – 9 May 1963) was the third and last White Rajah of the Raj of Sarawak. Early life The son of Charles Brooke and his wife Margaret de Windt ( Ranee Ma ...
ceded Sarawak to Britain in 1946, thus making it an official
British Crown Colony A Crown colony or royal colony was a colony administered by The Crown within the British Empire. There was usually a Governor, appointed by the British monarch on the advice of the UK Government, with or without the assistance of a local Council ...
– to the dismay of many locals. This eventually gave rise to local anti-cession and anti-imperialist movements which further sparked local political awareness. The triggering event was Sarawak's new Constitution of 1959 which fell short of expectations for many who hoped to see significant progress to self-governance. The need for an organised political front to champion Sarawakian interests finally led to the formation of SUPP on 4 June 1959, with
Ong Kee Hui Tan Sri Datuk Amar Ong Kee Hui (; 1914–2000) was a Malaysian Chinese politician and founder / President of the Sarawak United People's Party (founded 12 June 1959). His family trace their origins to Longhai, Fujian Province, China. Fami ...
as its founding president. With a "Sarawak for Sarawakians" ideology – SUPP's movement gained widespread support, including winning big in the local elections of November 1959, alarming the then ruling British colonial government. When the proposal for Federation of Malaysia was first mooted in 1961, SUPP came out strongly to oppose the idea. Ong argued for Sarawak's independence before setting up a greater federation. In December 1962, the British colonial government launched a crackdown on all dissenting groups in Sarawak. Many party members were detained, some even deported from Sarawak for alleged communist activities as, at the time, some members had links with Communist-affiliated organisations.Ong Kee Hui and Stephen Yong seemed to b
aware
they held that while some members were more radical, they needed a political outlet, and the party could guide them to become a moderate, positive force.
Nonetheless, SUPP still did well at the Sarawak elections of June 1963 but it left one-seat-short of a majority to form government, thus it remained as the opposition party. On 22 July 1963, Sarawak gained independent self-governance from Britain. On 16 September, Sarawak together with the Federation of Malaya, Singapore and North Borneo (Sabah) jointly founded the Federation of Malaysia. In June 1965, the government launched “Operation Hammer” to counter prevailing communist threats. Party leaders vehemently protested when about 10,000 Sarawakians men, women and children were forced to resettle under curfew – surrounded by barb-wire fencing – including more than a hundred SUPP members. Party leaders initiated daily visits to the resettlement centres to monitor the welfare of the detainees, but later, even this was barred by the government. In May 1969, due to 13 May riots in Peninsular Malaysia, an Emergency Proclamation was declared across the country, suspending an ongoing elections in Sarawak. When the Sarawak elections resumed in 1970, SUPP emerged as the single party with largest number of votes, but no party has control of majority seats to form a government. Considering that this crisis for a functioning government occurred at a time when, on one hand, a state of turmoil post-13 May was still present, while on the other hand, people were rounded-up and detained without trial – SUPP accepted the invitation to form a coalition government to stabilise the situation. In exchange, the government agreed to SUPP demand that party secretary-general Stephen Yong be appointed to the State Operations Committee (the security directorate) so that the party can influence counter-insurgency operations to look after the welfare of SUPP detainees including Chinese settlers, in the resettlement centres. In the ensuing years, SUPP generally had wide support at the polls even during the 2008
Malaysian general election Elections in Malaysia include elections to public office of the political entities that since 1963 have composed the federation of Malaysia. At present, elections in Malaysia exist at two levels: federal level and state level. Federal level elec ...
where most of its allies suffered. However, it is no stranger to major setbacks at the polls: In the 1996 Sarawak election, its then president, the late Wong Soon Kai was defeated and thereafter decided to retire from politics. A similar situation happened in 2011 Sarawak election when the then party president, George Chan Hong Nam was unseated. It also lost at the Sibu by-election of 2010. In the
2013 Malaysian general election General elections were held in Malaysia on Sunday, 5 May 2013 to elect the members of the 13th Parliament. Voting took place in all 222 parliamentary constituencies, each electing one MP to the Dewan Rakyat, the dominant house of Parliament. ...
, the party won only 1 out of 7 seats contested. Not long after, Wong Soon Koh, who was then the deputy secretary-general, left with his faction and eventually set up a separate splinter-party with a similar-sounding name, called United People's Party (UPP). A positive turnaround was marked in the 2016 Sarawak election when SUPP, with current party president
Sim Kui Hian Prof. Dato Sri Dr. Sim Kui Hian (; born 18 August 1965) is a Malaysian politician and cardiologist who is serving as the Deputy Premier of Sarawak and the territory's Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Sarawak in the ...
at the helm, went on to win 7 seats out of 15 contested. After establishing new leadership line-up and reforms including amending the party constitution to limit the tenure of the president himself, the party placed renewed focus on the pursuit of more Sarawakian autonomous power and rights within Malaysia based on the unique contexts of the federation's formation, as originally outlined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963, Inter-Governmental Committee Report, and the Report of the
Cobbold Commission The Cobbold Commission, was a Commission of Enquiry set up to determine whether the people of North Borneo (now Sabah) and Sarawak supported the proposal to create the Federation of Malaysia consisting of Malaya, Brunei, Singapore, North Borne ...
.


Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) leadership structure


SUPP Central Working Committee

* President: ** Dato' Sri Dr. Sim Kui Hian * Deputy President: ** Dato’ Sri Richard Riot ak Jaem ** Dato' Chieng Buong Toon ** * Vice President: ** Datuk Lily Yong Lee Lee ** Datuk Lee Kim Shin ** Datuk Ding Kuong Hiing ** Dato’ Sri Huang Tiong Sii ** ** * Secretary-General: ** Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew * Deputy Secretary-General: ** Sih Hua Tong ** Dato’ Ting Check Sii * Vice Secretary-General: ** Karambir Singh Honey ** Danny Banjang ** Teng Ung Woo ** Bong Lian Huan * Treasurer: ** Datuk Francis Harden Hollis * Deputy Treasurer: ** Robert Lau Hui Yew * Publicity and Information Chief: ** Adam Yii Siew Sang * Assistant Publicity and Information Chief: ** Lo Khere Chiang * Electoral Director: ** * Organising Secretary: **  Datuk Matthew Chen Thin Kong * Deputy Organising Secretary: ** Johnny Pang Leong Ming * SUPP Youth Chief: ** Michael Tiang Ming Tee * Deputy Youth Chief: ** ** * Vice Youth Chief: ** ** ** ** ** * SUPP Women Chief: ** Kho Teck Wan * Deputy Women Chief: ** ** * Vice Women Chief: ** ** ** ** ** * Members elected by Central Committee: ** Danny Banjang  ** Niponi ak Undek ** Datin Jennifer Chee Moinie  ** Wong Ching Yong  ** Dandi ak Timbang  ** Wilfred Yap Yau Sin ** ** ** ** ** ** * Members appointed from Non-Constituency: ** Michael Tiong Hok Choon ** Dato Sim Kiang Chiok ** ** ** ** ** ** ** * Members appointed by Party President: ** Chua Beng Seng ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **


SUPP Central Committee Members

** Lau Kah Lieng ** Fang Jee Khin  ** Chai Hong Chin  ** Lim Ah Ted ** Tnay Li Ping ** Wang Yin Chai  ** Chong Piang Men  ** Liew Chong Vui  ** Chai Siaw Fong ** Chong Bui Ling ** Tan Ching Teck  ** Tay Yeong Soon ** William Thien  ** Chong Tet Fatt ** Lau Sie Hing  ** Ting Huong Hau @ Ting Huong Leong  ** Chieng Buong Ong  ** Loi Siok Hung  ** Kong Keh Sing ** Siew Chiew Choung  ** Chau Chong Fat  ** Yew Phong Tiong ** Yek Tiew Chiong ** Yong King Chew ** Dandi Ak Timbang  ** Jampong Ak Tekalan  ** Kua Jack Seng ** Dato’ Ho Beng Aik  ** Ho Shing Tian ** James Ling Thian Ing ** Wilfred Yap Yau Sin  ** Lee Tho Fung  ** Lee Tong Kwang ** Jong Yean Pin  ** Liew Sze Lin  ** Voong Nam Jin  ** Lim Chung Yien  ** Lau Sze Tung  ** Bong Nam Kee ** Lee Thin Hin  ** Chai Soon Thin ** Liaw Ho Peng ** Michael Tiong Hok Choon ** Waterkiller Ak James Junit ** YBhg. Datin Jennifer Chee Moinie  ** Jimson Jium Ak Sungong  ** Thian Eyian Chionh ** Yong Kar Seng  ** Liew Shaw Fah  ** Tong Shih Yee ** Yeo Tiong Ing ** Chua Beng Seng ** Niponi Undek ** Liew Shan Boo ** Datin Enn Ong Siok Ean  ** Chan Chiaw Yam  ** Ong Chee Chiang  ** Patrick Gordon Song  ** Goh Tze Hui  ** Sim Bee Kim  ** Tan Kai ** Shim Poh Szu ** Sim Yam Leong  ** Chin Fook Kim  ** Hii Chang Hoon  ** Huang Huat Choon  ** Voon Kah Chee ** Chin Vui Khun ** Phang Puk Kung ** Own Chin Kong ** Wong Zee Yeng  ** Tan Hieng Kiek  ** Empaling Ak Lanyau  ** Egong Ak Undong  ** Ling Dien Yong ** Law Khin Seng ** Chai Kuen Ming  ** Kueh Chie Tiong  ** Chong Ah Muk  ** Goh Khiok Seng  ** Tang Siong Chung  ** Yap Siew Jin ** Bong Ngim Swee ** Chang Thun Hou  ** N’Tulus Ak Janggeh  ** Maclister Richard Riot  ** Michael Megang ** Tiong Chong Onn  ** Tay Siaw Chuan  ** Andar Suntai  ** Liew Wei Tchiun ** Toh Tze Bin @ Toh Tze Hua ** Sim Kiang Chiok ** Yong Tet Poh ** Chong Tak Sze ** Jimbai Ak Bandir ** Yiap Fun Lee ** Chin Shaw Foh ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **


Elected representatives


Dewan Negara (Senate)


Senators

* His Majesty's appointee: **Robert Lau Hui Yew (SUPP)


Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives)


Members of Parliament of the 15th Malaysian Parliament

SUPP only has 2 MP in the
House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...
.


Dewan Undangan Negeri (State Legislative Assembly)


Malaysian State Assembly Representatives

Sarawak State Legislative Assembly The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly is the legislative chamber of the unicameral legislature of the Malaysian state of Sarawak; the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak forms the other part of the legislature. The Assembly is modelled after the ...


General election results


State election results


See also

*
List of political parties in Malaysia This is a list of political parties in Malaysia, including existing and historical ones. Legislation Under the current legislation, all political parties (termed "Political Associations") must be registered under the Societies Act. Election e ...


Notes


References


Further reading

* Chin, James. (2011). ''Forced to the Periphery: Recent Chinese Politics in East Malaysia. Singapore'': ISEAS. * Chin, Ung Ho. (1997). ''Chinese Politics in Sarawak: a Study of the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP)''. New York: Oxford University Press, . * Ong, Kee Hui. (1998). ''Footprints in Sarawak: Memoirs of Tan Sri Datuk (Dr) Ong Kee Hui, 1914 to 1963.'' Kuching: Research and Resource Centre, SUPP. (hardcover) (paperback). * Steinmayer, Otto. (2000). Review of Yong K.T.: "A Life Twice Lived: A Memoir" and Ong Kee Hui: "Footprints on Sarawak: Memoirs of Tan Sri Datuk (Dr) Ong Kee Hui, 1914 to 1963". ''Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society,'' Vol. LXXII (Pt.1), 126–129. * Yong, Stephen K.T. (1997). ''A Life Twice Lived: A Memoir.'' Kuching: S. Yong. .


External links

* {{Authority control Political parties in Sarawak 1959 establishments in Malaya Political parties established in 1959