Dr Sim: SUPP will continue its role in Sarawak's nation-building, put Sarawakians first
KUCHING (June 30): Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) will continue to play its role in the state's nation-building and always put the interests of Sarawakians above all else, said its president Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
The Deputy Premier said the party, since its establishment in 1959, had faced challenges and setbacks but these did not deter it from moving forward.
'We have been able to get to where we are today, not just because we continue to play our part in Sarawak's nation-building but also due to our firm belief and commitment to such goal rather than staying with the party for vested interests,' he said in his speech at the SUPP Kuching 66th anniversary celebration held at a hotel here on Sunday night.
Dr Sim said SUPP has always been a multi-racial party that has stood together with Sarawakians through political ups and downs, as well as reforms.
He said SUPP was not 'here to get rid of certain political parties' but to discard the obsolete mindset that hinders Sarawak's nation-building and progress.
He further pointed out that as the oldest political party in Sarawak, it aimed to serve all Sarawakians and not a specific group.
'This is the key to our continued growth. SUPP has been able to win support from Sarawakians because it adopted pragmatic and self-reform approaches within the political mainstream, including having resolved to embrace unity and diversity in the past political crisis.'
He also thanked former chief minister, the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, for his support rendered when SUPP was struggling.
'We did not survive by cheering slogans, but action and commitment to make sacrifices have determined what we have today,' he said.
He said that nobody looked up to Sarawak in the past but the state, after undergoing reforms and policy advancement, had become the new hope and focus of Malaysia.
On the state's road to regaining autonomy, Dr Sim said the Malaysia Agreement 1963 had not been honoured for many years, which was the root cause for Sarawak's fight for equal treatment.
He said Sarawak would continue to strengthen its autonomous powers in various fields including education while giving its best to improve economy and infrastructure.
'We don't just talk about nation-building—we build it with policies and results. We invest in education, provide monthly allowances and waive education fees for poor students in a bid to cultivate talents who can bring about change for Sarawak.'
Although Sarawak does not get the desired allocations from Putrajaya, he said the state's current annual budget has grown to as high as RM15.8 billion to see more economic progress and infrastructure development.
Dr Sim emphasised that the next five years would be a critical period for Sarawak's nation-building process, and thus called on Sarawakians to reject external destructive forces that create divisions and confusion.
He also urged SUPP leaders and members to stay calm, remain united and continue to uphold the 'Sarawak First' principle. Dr Sim Kui Hian nation-building Sarawak FIrst Sarawak United People's Party
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Dr Sim: SUPP will continue its role in Sarawak's nation-building, put Sarawakians first
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