Incumbent Wong, 82, a senior vice-president of Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), has held the seat since 1991.
Recently, SUPP president Dr Sim Kui Hian called for younger leaders to spur development in the area, citing its lagging infrastructure.
Council of Professors fellow Jeniri Amir called the statement “timely”, saying Wong is unlikely to run again due to health and age concerns.
“It’s high time to pass the baton to young, capable leaders who can bring fresh ideas and energy to the PDP,” he told FMT.
Jeniri said the state’s ruling coalition, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), would likely allocate the seat to SUPP at the next election due to its historical hold on the constituency and following the party’s strong performance in the last election.
Wong first won the seat under the SUPP banner.
Jeniri said GPS chairman Abang Johari Openg, the Sarawak premier, has the authority to resolve any dispute over which party should be assigned the seat.
“He has extensive experience in handling past crises. I don’t believe this will create a crisis because, traditionally, coalition members listen to their leader,” he said.
Meanwhile, James Chin of the University of Tasmania dismissed the spat as mere “shadowboxing” aimed at laying the groundwork for claiming seats in the next state election.
He said the final say rests entirely with Abang Johari.
“Sarawak is the only state where the premier has complete autonomy in selecting candidates for state elections. He doesn’t have to consult (anyone).
“At the end of the day, it is the premier who decides,” said Chin.
Wong, who left SUPP in 2014, formed the United People’s Party (UPP) which was renamed Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) four years later.
PSB dissolved in April this year, with its members joining PDP en bloc.
At the time, pundits predicted the merger would cause strife among GPS components.
This quickly materialised when, on May 1, Romeo Christopher Tegong, the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PPB) Bawang Assan branch chief, acknowledged SUPP’s historical claim to the constituency.
Romeo, a political secretary to Abang Johari, said his party will work to reclaim the seat for SUPP.
He was criticised the following day by Raymond Gema Tutus, Bawang Assan’s PDP Youth deputy chief, who called the statement premature and unbecoming of a GPS component leader.
Last week, PBB vice-president Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah urged GPS partners not to “rock the boat” over seat negotiations.