A party source told FMT that SUPP had shortlisted its candidates and submitted the list to the GPS leadership for approval.
“We leave it to the GPS chairman (Abang Johari Openg) to decide. We have been reminded many times by Abang Jo that it’s important to have the numbers and field winnable candidates of quality for Sarawak to be represented effectively in Parliament,” the source said.
The party has been allocated its traditional seven seats – Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Serian, Sarikei, Sibu, Lanang and Miri.
The source said the SUPP leadership is aware of the party’s responsibility to deliver as many seats as possible if GPS were to continue playing its kingmaker’s role at the federal level.
In the 2018 general election, SUPP could only deliver the Serian seat through its deputy president, Richard Riot. GE14 saw the party’s worst performance in a parliamentary election.
Among its allies, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) won 13 of the 14 seats it contested, while Parti Rakyat Sarawak and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) won half of the seats they contested.
The four Sarawak parties won a total of 19 seats, six fewer than the 25 won in GE13.
“For SUPP to perform reasonably well it, has to field winnable candidates in ‘traditionally losing seats’ like Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Sarikei, Sibu and Miri,” said the source.
“But the party leadership is against the idea of fielding its existing assemblymen as candidates even though they are popular and capable of winning.
“Instead, the party has proposed candidates who may not have a chance to unseat the opposition heavyweights.”
The source said the party should field its president and current Batu Kawah assemblyman, Dr Sim Kui Hian, in Stampin, Repok assemblyman Huang Tiong Sii in Sarikei, and Piasau assemblyman Sebastian Ting in Miri.
“These three have a good chance of reclaiming the three seats for GPS,” the source said.
It is also understood that SUPP has proposed the party’s former youth chief, Tan Kai, for Stampin while councillor Jeffrey Phang is expected to contest the Miri seat.
In the last elections, Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen won the Stampin seat while PKR’s Dr Michael Teo won the Miri seat.