Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Dr Sim Kui Hian has expressed disappointment over Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem’s decision to allocate SUPP’s seats to BN direct candidates.

Admitting that the party does not agree with the concept of BN direct candidates, Sim however conceded that SUPP has been "overruled" by the chief minister.

Although disappointed, Sim however said the party is cognizant that it is the chief minister’s prerogative.

“Similarly, we trust that all BN direct candidates will adhere to the chief minister’s directive that they must resign from their existing political parties in order to be eligible to contest as BN direct candidates and that SUPP seats allocated to BN direct candidates remain SUPP seats,” he said in a statement posted on his Facebook page today.

Urging SUPP members to remain united, Sim reminded them how unseen forces, both from within and outside the party had been intent on destroying SUPP.

“Our immediate goal is to win our existing seats (and) consolidate power to prepare for the longer-term fight,” he said.

Stressing that now is the time to put aside past differences, Sim said it is also time to stand united to safeguard Sarawak.

“Now is the time for us to pool our efforts together and focus on denying West Malaysian parties on making further inroads into Sarawak politics. State elections are for state issues and not federal issues,” he added.

Sim’s remarks were in response to Adenan who had announced five BN candidates as well as four direct candidates from the United People's Party (UPP), who are to resign from the party before contesting under the BN ticket.

They are UPP president Dr Wong Soon Koh, who will defend his seat in Bawang Assan, Ranum Mina who will defend his seat in Opar, Tiong Thai King (Dudong) and Hii King Chion (Pujut).

Although UPP is BN-friendly, it is not a component of the BN coalition. UPP members are made up of former SUPP members who left to form a new party.