UPP leaders quit party to serve as BN direct candidate

KUCHING: UPP president Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh and five other party leaders resigned from the party today to be eligible to contest the 11th Sarawak election as Barisan Nasional direct candidates.
UPP secretary-general George Lo Kuin Fah said Wong, Ranum Mina, Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, Dr Johnical Rayong, Datuk Tiong Thai King and Datuk Hii King Chiong resigned soon after they were named as BN direct candidates.
Sarawak Chief Minister and state BN chairman Tan Sri Adenan Satem had named them as BN direct candidates.
Lo said all of them tendered their resignations with immediate effect in accordance with the requirements of the BN constitution.
"We were informed that in order to be BN direct candidates they need to be partyless. It is not a matter of choice but a matter of complying with the BN constitution," he told reporters at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here.
Lo said the remaining party leaders would handle the party leadership collectively.
Their resignation would not in any manner suggest that they were disloyal, he said, adding: "In their hearts and spirit, they remain with us. We will explain this to all our members and branches statewide to seek their full support for the candidates."
He also said UPP would not be disbanded and would apply to join the BN after the election but based on the performance of the six.
Wong told reporters UPP was happy with Adenan's decision, but they expected more party leaders to be named as candidates before nomination day.
"We are ready to cooperate with BN component parties in winning the election and we hope they will also support us in return," he said. — Bernama