Datuk Lily Yong Lee Lee, the Chairperson of the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Kuching Branch, has officially confirmed her removal from the party. Dismissing initial speculation regarding a potential suspension, Yong clarified that she has been served with an expulsion letter. The veteran politician stated via WhatsApp that both she and her branch secretary received formal notification of the party’s decision, marking a significant shift in the local political landscape.
The expulsion is reportedly linked to allegations surrounding the Kenyalang Gold Card (KGC) programme. Yong suggested that the move followed claims that her branch failed to provide concrete evidence to support allegations of irregularities within the initiative, which were detailed in a statement issued on 3 July 2025. SUPP leadership maintains that the public remarks regarding the programme had the potential to damage the party’s credibility and undermine public confidence in its governance.
While confirming the news, Yong remained guarded about the specific timeline and internal deliberations leading up to the dismissal. “This is the truth of what is happening that I can answer. Other than that, I am unwilling to say,” she remarked when contacted for further comment. Following this development, the SUPP Kuching Branch is expected to convene an emergency meeting to discuss the implications of the leadership void and determine their next course of action.
Yong’s political career is marked by her tenure as the State Assemblywoman for Padungan from 2001 to 2006. During the 2001 state election, she secured the seat by defeating Democratic Action Party (DAP) candidate Chong Chieng Jen with a majority of 1,033 votes. However, she was unable to retain the constituency in 2006, losing to Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) Dominique Ng by a margin of 1,417 votes. Despite the electoral setback, she remained a prominent figure in grassroots and central party politics.
Throughout her career, Yong held high-ranking positions, including serving as a former SUPP Vice President before stepping down in April 2022 to focus on branch-level activities. Her time in the party was not without friction; she was previously embroiled in controversy during the 2021 Sarawak state election. At that time, she was referred to the party’s disciplinary committee after openly protesting the leadership’s choice of candidate for the Padungan seat, highlighting long-standing internal tensions that have now culminated in her expulsion.
