Politics have better kangtau than doctors

Prof Dr Sim for Pending

by Peter Sibon. Posted on January 27, 2011, Thursday

SUPP president says party may field MBKS mayor James Chan in Padungan

KUCHING: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) will nominate Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian to contest in Pending in the coming state election.

Party president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan, who disclosed this to The Borneo Post on Tuesday, said there was also a “high probability” that SUPP might field Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor James Chan in Padungan.

Dr Sim is currently the head of the Department of Cardiology and head of Clinical Research Centre of Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) Kota Samarahan.

“Yes, SUPP will nominate Prof Sim in Pending in the coming state election,” said Dr Chan.

When contacted, Prof Sim said he was “shocked” to hear the news.

“Well, I don’t know my fate but I am here to serve my country,” he quipped.

Prof Sim, a world-renowned cardiologist, was practising in Australia when he decided to return to Kuching in 1998.

He subsequently started the Cardiology Department at the SGH in 2001.

Prof Sim is also the adjunct professor at the Faculty of Medicines and Health Sciences at Unimas and a fellow with at least 10 renowned medical institutions worldwide.

He is the son of the late deputy chief minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Sim Kheng Hong.

Prof Sim is currently SUPP Pending assistant branch secretary.

On Chan, Dr Chan said there was high probability that he would be fielded in Padungan but added that the party preferred all its candidates to be party members.

Chan is currently not a member.

When asked for his comment, James Chan said that it was too premature for him to comment.

“I am here to serve the people as a mayor of MBKS. I consider this disclosure as a speculation as it is not confirmed yet,” he said.

Pending and Padungan are two of the eight seats which SUPP lost to the opposition in the last state election held in May 2006.

Prior to the defeat, Pending was held by SUPP secretary-general Datuk Sim Kheng Hui and Padungan was held by SUPP vice president Datuk Lily Yong.

The other five seats are Batu Lintang, Kota Sentosa, Engkilili, Maradong, Bukit Assek and Kidurong.

However, Engkilili assemblyman Dr Johnical Rayong had left the Sarawak National Party (SNAP) shortly after the last state election and became a BN friendly assemblyman.

He was subsequently admitted to SUPP and the BN last year.

Meanwhile, Dr Chan revealed that at least two of SUPP’s 12 current assemblymen will not be defending their seats in the coming state election.

“They have indicated that they will not be defending their seats,” he said, but declined to reveal their identities.

SUPP has been hard-pressed to field only winnable candidates in the coming state election as advised by the prime minister when he officiated at the recent SUPP Convention.