KUCHING: Only those who are always the ground are worthy to be candidates for the upcoming general election, said Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian.
The Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president said this when responding to a move by the party’s Stakan branch to announce its branch chairman Datuk Sim Kiang Chiok as a potential candidate for Stampin in the upcoming general election.
This, he said came as a surprise given that the branch issued the recommendation by announcing it publicly.
He stressed that it is up to the voice of the people on the ground to determine if he or she is the right candidate, not by the candidate themselves.
“Those who have campaigned publicly and lobbied for it means that they are not confident to become the right candidate.
“I have said many times in the past to all YBs (representatives) that they are aware that if you want to become a YB, you have to be on the ground because it is up to the people who elect you, not the branch,” said Dr Sim.
The Deputy Premier also said that it is up to the party’s supreme committee to decide who is chosen to become a candidate.
“Traditionally, the branch can send a list of nomination for possible candidates, but they should have done it publicly.
“This is because, what if the name that they announced are not selected to as a candidate? It will be embarrassing for sure, and it means you are not up to the standard.
“While you may think you are up to the standard, if you are telling everybody that you are the best, but it turns out to be the opposite, how? It will be embarrassing,” said the Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government.
