Parti Rakyat Sarawak president James Masing is sharpening his knives, targeting Meluan MP Wong Judat and Hulu Rajang's Billy Abit Joo.
KUCHING: A defiant Hulu Rajang incumbent, Billy Abit Joo, has added fuel to his already fiery ties with Party Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president James Masing and further stoked speculations of his changing alliances.
Ignoring Masing’s warning that his ‘defiance’ will have ‘serious political implications’ Abit Joo has gone ahead and opened three new service centres – Kapit, Belaga and Sg Asap - in his Hulu Rajang constituency, lending credence to rumours that he will be defending his parliamentary seat one way or the other in the coming general elections.
Masing has dropped Abit Joo from PRS’ candidate list for the 13th GE and this has not gone down well with the five-term incumbent or his supporters, including several influential members of the party.
Reasoning his decision, Masing said that Abit Joo had reached a ‘plateau’ in his political contribution.
But Abit Joo begged to differ and believes that he is still that ‘winnable’ candidate that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is looking for.
Abit Joo has held Hulu Rajang since 1990 and in 2008 despite mounting pressure from activists and opposition managed to retain his seat by a 2,164 vote majority.
Hulu Rajang is mired in controversies involving the Bakun Hydroelectric Dam, displaced indigenous communities and widespread land grabs. The parliamentary seat is situated in the Kapit division and includes two state seats – Baleh (held by Masing) and Belaga (Liwan Lagang).
Rumours have been circulating in Kuching that a number of MPs, who have been dropped from the list of BN candidates are in contact with Pakatan Rakyat leaders.
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has himself reportedly admitted that he is in touch with several Sarawak BN leaders.
The local grapevine has linked Abit Joo to Anwar’s political shopping cart.
But thus far, Abit Joo has given no indication as to whether he will resign from PRS, defect to the opposition or stand as an independent.
Earlier this year, Anwar told the foreign media that Pakatan Rakyat would win the 13th general election by a 10-seat majority. His confidence is rumoured to hinge on Sabah and Sarawak which collectively holds 56 seats in the 222-seat Malaysian parliament.
Rumours are rife that the opposition will take away at least four seats in Sabah and six in Sarawak. To that end, two reportedly ‘strong’ Sabah MPs – Beaufort’s Lajim Ukin and Tuaran’s Wilfred Bumburing – have defected.
SWP-SPDP-SNAP-PRS
However, unlike Anwar’s flawed Sept 16, 2008 strategy to wrest Putrajaya with defections from BN, this time round the opposition leader is inviting leaders who are ‘disillusioned’ with the ruling regime to come out and stand for themselves in support of Pakatan’s ideals.
No pressure on defectors to join his PKR or its partners – DAP and PAS – in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition.
In Sarawak, Anwar is rumoured to be negotiating with individuals in Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) party although its leaders have denied this.
But suffice to say the outpouring of denials has left much room for speculations.
Between Anwar and Taib is a ‘mutual’ friend businessman Sng Chee Hua who is the prime mover of the contentious Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) which has declared an ‘all out war’ against Masing and PRS.
SWP has firmly stated that while being a BN-friendly party, they will nonetheless contest against PRS in all six constituencies – Sri Aman, Lubok Antu, Julau, Kanowit, Selangau and Hulu Rajang.
Yesterday, FMT reported an alleged ‘secret pact’ between SWP and another BN partner, Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), to ‘kill -off’ PRS.
The report was triggered by the appointment of Meluan assemblyman Wong Judat – who recently resigned from SPDP as vice president and member – as vice president in SWP.
As if to confirm his leanings, Judat recently took a delegation of longhouse chieftains and supporters from Meluan and Pakan to meet SWP president Larry Sng.
PRS has been a major thorn in SWP’s side. Late last month it was reported that the once illustrious Sarawak National Party (SNAP) may seek a comeback through BN with an aim to oust a politically weak SPDP.
Masing ready to ‘kill-off ‘ Judat
Amidst this covert war among the BN parties is a struggling Sarawak United Peoples Party (SUPP) who are on bended knees begging for Chinese support, which is now leaning towards opposition DAP.
Masing and his men are sharpening their knives and preparing to build their own ‘political barriers’ against these enemies.
Abit Joo and Judat have now joined PRS’ (long) list of enemies.
Said Masing on the Abit issue: “I can’t understand why he’s decided to set up his own service centre in Kapit town when his name is not nominated by the party to defend the seat.
“(But) whatever he is trying to do now is too little too late, ” said Masing who confirmed that his private secretary Wilson Ugak Kumbong will be replacing Abit in Hulu Rajang in the coming elections.
Masing is hoping that Ugak’s 15 years as Taib’s political secretary will give him the leverage he needs to take on a stubborn Abit Joo in the event the later contests.
As for Judat, his resignation from SPDP, has ‘cleared’ the path for Masing’s next course of action.
Masing is now free to wield his knife without guilt against Judat who is aiming to take on PRS vice-president Joseph Salang in Julau.
“The battle path is clear… now (whatever we do will) have no implication on SPDP and (there is) no more complication.
“Wong (Judat) is now facing BN as an opposition candidate, we will tackle him as an opposition.”
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