KUCHING, Dec 20: The Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister post is rumoured to be returned to SUPP through its party president Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian as recognition of SUPP’s impressive performance in the just concluded Sarawak polls.
Having won 13 out of the 18 seats it contested, SUPP has proven it is a force to be reckoned with.
SUPP has won the second highest number of seats under the ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in the recent Sarawak polls on Saturday.
The party has also won five Chinese majority seats namely Kota Sentosa, Pelawan, Bukit Assek, Tanjung Batu and Pujut. And thus, reflecting, on the party’s leadership in securing a greater Chinese involvement in politics and government.
As such, the appointment would see Dr Sim following in his father’s footsteps, who is a former state deputy chief minister the late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Sim Kheng Hong, who was also former SUPP president.
GPS has seen a marked improvement in its performance through its debut, securing an additional four seats as compared to 72 seats won in the 11th Sarawak State Election in 2016, in which the coalition was part of BN at the time.
Meanwhile, GPS secretary general Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi noted that it is the chief minister’s prerogative to appoint his deputy in his new cabinet line-up.
The position for the deputy chief minister in the Sarawak State Cabinet is left vacant following the passing of Tan Sri Datuk Amar James Jemut Masing on Oct 31, this year.
