MIRI (Bernama): Seven incumbent assemblymen from the Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP) will be defending their seats in the 12th Sarawak state election, says party secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting.

       He said SUPP will be submitting their names to Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.

       "SUPP has decided that all seven incumbents who won in the 11th Sarawak election would be named as candidates for the coming election," he told reporters after a media pre-launch of Batik Linut here on Saturday (Nov 6).

       Apart from Ting, who is standing in Piasau, the six other assemblymen are SUPP president Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian (Batu Kawa); vice-president Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin (Senadin), Datuk Ding Kuong Hiing (Meradong), Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii (Repok); Datuk Francis Harden Hollis (Simanggang); and Lo Khere Chiang (Batu Kitang).

       GPS comprises Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), SUPP and Parti Demokratik Progresif (PDP) and on October 24, the coalition's secretary-general, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said GPS would be contesting in all 82 Sarawak state constituencies.

       Ting said in the last Sarawak election, SUPP was allocated 20 seats and he hoped the party would receive the same number of seats this time.

       "All party machinery is ready. We will learn from the Melaka polls as they are the first to carry out a state election under the new normal announced by the Election Commission (EC) that gatherings which will not be allowed.

       "I believe the Melaka election would be the guideline for all parties contesting in Sarawak," he said. – Bernama