BN can take back urban seats from opposition – Asfia

SIBU: A good strategy and winnable candidates are keys to Barisan Nasional (BN) unseating the opposition in urban areas in the next state election.

PBB’s permanent chairman Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar expressed optimism that with BN strategising themselves along that line, it could wrest several urban seats in places such as Kuching, Miri, Sibu and even Sarikei.

“That (move) is left entirely to BN high command on a good strategy and most importantly, the choice of candidates.

“Do not choose candidates who cannot win as the key is winnability.

“We must choose candidates who can win and with the BN flag and together with projects, (BN) should be able to win.

“So, we can wrest back the urban seats that are now controlled by the opposition,” Mohamad Asfia, who is State Legislative Assembly (DUN) speaker said.

He was responding to a question on whether BN could unseat the opposition in several urban seats come the next state election.

Asked on the opposition’s stronghold of Bukit Assek constituency, he said this needed to be examined.

He, however, believed there were other urban seats that could be wrested by BN.

Meanwhile, state DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen recently claimed that the ongoing disagreement within the BN over the admission of Teras, if not settled amicably, would likely benefit Pakatan Rakyat in the upcoming state election.

Chong was also reported to have said any split in their opponent’s camp was good for them.

Asfia, however, did not think so as the opposition leader had been caught up in many sticky situations.

“The opposition is no longer strong as their (PKR) leader is embroiled in a serious legal problem.”

SPDP, SUPP to contest against BN in next state polls?

KUCHING: Rumours that Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) will team up to challenge Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 11th state election could be real, says Opar assemblyman Ranum Mina.

“In politics nothing is impossible. I also heard of such rumours and personally I think there is some basis to it because if we look at past records disgruntled groups will usually express their dissatisfaction by contesting as oppositions.

“So in this case we all know that SPDP and SUPP have openly voiced their unhappiness over the latest political development in the state and it is not surprising if they will go against BN,” he said.

Ranum, however, said should that happen it would give little or no impact to BN.

SPDP Youth chief Robert Ayu on the other hand dismissed such claim as rumours.

“SPDP and SUPP are BN component parties so why fight BN when they are already in BN,” he said.

Rumuors have it that SPDP and SUPP will contest in all their traditional seats should BN is represented by the incumbents who recently joined Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) in the next state polls due in 2016.

Among the SPDP seats likely to be represented by Teras candidates are Tasik Biru, Pakan, Bekenu, Marudi and Batu Danau while SUPP seats are Opar, Bengoh, Engkilili and Bawang Assan.

Teras headed for ‘BN Plus’, if not BN — Dr Jerip

KUCHING: Bengoh assemblyman Datuk Dr Jerip Susil yesterday briefed community leaders and village headmen in Mambong parliamentary constituency on why he had decided to leave Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) for Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras).

Dr Jerip, who is Assistant Public Health Minister, explained that he and the rest from SUPP and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) had quit their respective parties as they felt that it was the best way to ensure political stability in the state Barisan Nasional (BN).

“We don’t want the internal squabbles in SUPP and SPDP to prolong because it is not good for BN especially with the state expected to face an election in two years’ time.

“So we feel that it is better for us to leave for good and find a new entity for us to continue serving the people as BN elected representatives,” he said.

He stated this at the presentation of appointment letters to community leaders from Bengoh and Tarat state constituencies in Siburan near here.

On their position after joining Teras, Dr Jerip said that their status as BN assembly members remained unchanged, and will continue to serve their areas as usual.

“The Chief Minister (Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem), during our meeting with him soon after we declared that we have joined Teras, has personally welcomed our move.

Of course there are some objections from our fellow BN component parties but that should not be a problem.

“Even if for the time being (if) we cannot join BN, we can always be a ‘BN Plus’ like what was done in 1983 when the defunct Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) formed BN Plus before it was formally accepted into BN fold,” he said.

He said there was no reason why a similar formula could not be applied in their case for the interest of the state BN, particularly its various components in the coalition and people in the state as a whole.

Dr Jerip added that he felt it necessary for him to come up with this explanation to avoid confusion among grassroots leaders following misleading claims about their present status after they joined Teras.

“With this brief explanation, I hope you all will be clear about our status and direction we are heading to so that you can spread this information to your people,” he said.

Among those present at the occasion yesterday were Deputy State Speaker and Tarat assemblyman Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Acting Kuching Resident Zamahari Saidi, DO Bau Wong Hie Sieng, SAO Siburan Wilson Spilak Asui, SAO Padawan Rangen Jamang and Kuching district Bidayuh community leader Temenggong Austin Dimin Niyon.

‘Power shift of bigwigs to Teras will strengthen BN’

SARATOK: The combination of 10 state assemblypersons and two MPs in the new party Teras will make Barisan Nasional (BN) stronger.

Former SPDP vice-president Capt Zainuddin Tan Sri Hamdan Sirat said the power combination will be a force to be reckoned with, that will probably change the whole political dynamics in the state.

As far as the state is concerned, it is the second largest party after PBB, with PRS (third) and DAP (fourth) and others down the line, he pointed out.

Teras is a multi-racial party and therefore many people can empathise with it, said Zainuddin at an event in Kabong that saw more than 150 SPDP Kalaka division members quitting SPDP to join Teras recently.

A former SPDP member James Sammy said the move by ex-SPDP president Tan Sri William

Mawan Ikom and other 10 other elected representatives including Baram MP Anyi Ngau, is a wise move to get rid of the problems including a mutiny in their own ranks (SPDP).

“Although we (six elected representatives) have moved out of SPDP, we pledge our allegiance to the BN and we subscribe to the struggles of the BN,” he said.

The five other elected representatives are from SUPP (four) and SWP (one).

James said he was confident that the move made by them in quitting SPDP and joining Tears will get the blessing of the top leadership of the BN.

Among those who quit SPDP yesterday were SPDP division and branch leaders like Councillor Ismail Hussain, Tuai Rumah Abel Gon, Awang Jamil Awang Sulong, Bakawi Ismail alias Mail, Abang Masron Abang Rusdi, Abang Mahron Abang Nordin, Melati Buang and Tuai Rumah Manggie Enchana.

Teras ‘too big a party to be ignored’

Wan Junaidi (wearing hat) presenting prizes to the winners at the programme.

KUCHING: Teras’ application to join the BN may have to be treated a little differently, hinted Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar yesterday.

He said under normal circumstances, all applications to join the BN had to be based on the mutual consensus of all BN component parties.

However, Teras has in its midst 11 elected representatives and thus could not be ignored outright, he told reporters after the prize presentation for the 1Malaysia Folkgames programme at Taman Ria Phase 4 field at Bandar Baru Semariang here, yesterday.

“With 11 YBs, Teras is easily a big political party.”

On arguments that Teras’ elected representatives should not be admitted into the BN as they were elected through their former parties – SPDP and SUPP, Wan Junaidi said the argument might not be strong enough to exclude them from the BN.

“At the moment, it (such argument) is not material as they are still YBs representing the people in their own respective areas.

“Whether their (Teras) admission (into BN) becomes a reality or not is secondary matter. The next election will determine this.”

He added that the state had experienced a similar situation before in 1983 with the now defunct PBDS, and the BN Plus Formula was used then.

It was now up to the people of Sarawak and government leaders to decide on this issue, Wan Junaidi said.

Tuntutan peningkatan royalti minyak dan gas dikemuka

Usul kepada Parlimen bagi tingkatkan bayaran royalti kepada Sarawak daripada 5 peratus kepada 20 peratus

KUCHING: Ahli Parlimen Bandar Kuching Chong Chieng Jen telah menge-mukakan usul kepada Parlimen untuk mendapatkan pertimbangan daripada kerajaan pusat bagi me-ningkatkan bayaran royal-ti minyak dan gas kepada Sarawak daripada lima peratus kepada 20 peratus.

Usul tersebut menurut Chong merupakan susulan daripada keputusan yang dicapai pada Persidangan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) pada 6 Mei lepas untuk meluluskan usul bagi meningkatkan bayaran royal-ti minyak dan gas kepada Sarawak.

“Saya telah mengemuka-kan usul hari ini (semalam) untuk dibentangkan pada Parlimen yang akan berlangsung pada 10 Jun depan,” kata Chong pada sidang media di Ibu Pejabat DAP di sini semalam.

Bagaimanapun menurut Chong usul tersebut ber-kemungkinan tidak bersinar memandangkan keutamaan kebiasaannya diberikan kepada Ahli Parlimen untuk membentangkan rang-rang bagi pindaan atau memperkenalkan undang-undang baharu.

Justeru beliau menggesa semua Ahli Parlimen Sarawak sama ada daripada Barisan Nasional (BN), TERAS dan Pakatan Rakyat (PR) memberi sokongan penuh kepada usul tersebut.

Tambah Chong, PR ketika ini mempunyai 87 kerusi di Parlimen manakala 25 kerusi dimiliki BN Sarawak dan TERAS dan keputusan untuk usul itu diluluskan adalah bergantung kepada kesepakatan Sarawak.

“Jika PR memenangi ke-dua-dua Pilihan Raya Kecil akan datang maka kami akan mempunyai 89 Ahli Parlimen ditambah 25 Ahli Parlimen dari Sarawak dan TERAS menjadikan semua 114 yang setuju,” tambahnya.

Chong turut tidak menolak Ahli-ahli Parlimen Sabah berkemungkinan juga akan bersetuju dengan usul tersebut.

Dalam pada itu pada 6 Mei lepas ketika Persidangan DUN, ADUN Semop Abdullah Saidol yang juga pengerusi Kelab Penyokong BN meminda usul asal DAP-Kota Sentosa untuk meningkatkan royal-ti minyak dan gas kepada Sarawak.

Abdullah menjelaskan bahawa kerajaan negeri juga akan mengadakan perjumpaan dengan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak atau kementerian yang berkaitan untuk mengatur rundingan meja bulat bagi membincangkan perkara ini.

TERAS boleh memusnahkan perpaduan BN

KUCHING: Perpaduan dalam Barisan Nasional (BN) akan musnah jika para ahli parti-parti komponen boleh meletak jawatan dan bersama-sama membentuk satu parti baharu dan kemudiannya diterima balik ke dalam perikatan tersebut.

Presiden sementara Parti Demokratik Progresif Sarawak (SPDP) Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing berkata, BN merupakan perikatan parti-parti politik, bukannya untuk individu-individu dan mengikut perjanjian antara komponen-komponen parti, sesiapa yang meninggalkan parti BN tidak boleh membawa keahlian itu bersama.

Jika perkara itu dibenarkan maka asas yang membawa BN bersama selama ini akan goyah, katanya ketika mengulas kenyataan pemerhati politik Datuk Peter Minos yang mengatakan sesiapa menghalang kemasukan Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (TERAS) ke dalam BN perlu mempertimbangkan perpaduan pentadbir negeri ini.

Dalam kenyataan yang dikeluarkan semalam, Tiong membidas Minos kerana menuduh tiga parti komponen BN, SPDP, Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak (SUPP) dan Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) tidak mempedulikan perpaduan.

“Kita bersetuju dengan Datuk Peter Minos bahawa kita perlu ada perpaduan dalam BN dan biar saya jelaskan, untuk mengekalkan perpaduan ini kita perlu membantah kemasukan TERAS ke dalam BN,” katanya.

Tiong menambah, jika bekas presiden SPDP Tan Sri William Mawan berminat memelihara perpaduan dalam BN, beliau tidak akan meninggalkan parti malah mencari jalan penyelesaian bagi masalah yang timbul susulan tindakannya menerima semula pemimpin-pemimpin parti disingkirkan sebelum ini.

Krisis dalam SPDP, katanya, bukan disebabkan perjuangan kuasa tetapi disebabkan pelanggaran berulang perlembagaan dan resolusi yang diluluskan dalam Mesyuarat Agung Tiga Tahun Sekali parti.

Beliau turut kesal Minos tidak mengkaji terlebih dahulu isu berhubung TERAS dan tiga komponen parti secara mendalam sebelum membuat sebarang ulasan mengenai perpaduan dalam BN.

“Bagaimana perpaduan boleh wujud jika tiga komponen parti akan kehilangan kerusi BN yang diperuntukkan kepada TERAS jika ia diterima masuk perikatan ini?,” soal Tiong.

Jika TERAS bertanding di mana-mana kerusi diperuntukkan kepada parti komponen BN pada pilihan raya negeri akan datang, Tiong memetik Minos berkata: “Musuh-musuh di pagar akan bersuka ria apabila anda bergaduh.”

Presiden sementara itu menambah, Minos begitu naif kerana memikirkan mana-mana parti BN bersedia menyerahkan kerusi diperuntukkan kepada orang yang meletak jawatan dari parti.

“’Sebagai pemerhati politik, Minos perlu sedar tidak mungkin SPDP, SUPP dan PRS akan menyerahkan kerusi diperuntukkan kepada TERAS. Jika Minos berada dalam mana-mana parti, tidakkah beliau bersependapat?” kata Tiong lagi.

TERAS jangan terburu-buru bawa masuk wakil rakyat pembangkang

PAKAN: Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (TERAS) dinasihati agar tidak terburu-buru membawa masuk wakil rakyat pembangkang ke dalam parti baharu tersebut.

Naib Presiden Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum berkata, sebaliknya TERAS harus berusaha menstruktur serta menyusun parti itu terlebih dahulu.

“Selepas itu, mereka perlu meyakinkan parti-parti komponen Barisan Nasional (BN) yang sedia ada untuk menyokong kemasukan mereka ke dalam BN,” katanya ketika merasmikan Mesyuarat Agung Tahunan PRS Cawangan Pakan di Rumah Jambai, Sungai Engkamop di sini.

Salang yang juga Ahli Parlimen Julau berkata TERAS memerlukan sokongan parti komponen BN lain untuk diterima masuk ke dalam BN.

“Jika anda (TERAS) menerima ahli-ahli pembangkang yang telah berjuang menentang parti-parti komponen BN, misalnya di kerusi Pelagus yang diper-untukkan kepada PRS, ia hanya akan mewujudkan perasaan marah kalangan ahli parti,” katanya.

Salang berpendapat, adalah lebih baik TERAS berbincang dengan BN terlebih dahulu sebelum membawa masuk wakil rakyat pembangkang ke dalam parti tersebut.

Pada 15 Mei lalu, seramai 10 orang wakil rakyat BN dari Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak SUPP dan Parti Demokratik Progresif Sarawak (SPDP) serta seorang wakil rakyat dari Parti Pekerja Sarawak (SWP) menyertai TERAS.

Wakil rakyat SUPP terdiri daripada Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Bawang Assan Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Dr Jerip Susil (ADUN Bengoh), Dr Johnical Rayong (ADUN Engkilili) dan Ranum Mina (ADUN Opar).

Sementara wakil rakyat SPDP terdiri Ahli Parlimen Saratok merangkap ADUN Pakan Tan Sri William Mawan, Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie (ADUN Tasik Biru), Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran (ADUN Marudi), Paulus Palu Gumbang (ADUN Batu Da-nau), Rosey Yunus (ADUN Bekenu) dan Ahli Parlimen Baram, Anyie Ngau.

Formula 50/50 bertujuan selesaikan krisis SUPP: Wong

KUCHING: Bekas Pengerusi Cawangan SUPP Sibu Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh mempunyai bukti kukuh kewujudan Formula 50/50 yang bertujuan menyelesaikan krisis kepimpinan dalam parti itu.

Menurutnya, surat berkenaan (ditunjukkan kepada pemberita semalam) merupakan satu-satunya bukti menunjukkan ia telah dihantar kepada Ketua Menteri Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem bersama lima Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) iaitu Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa dan Ranum Mina pada 23 April lalu.

Wong yang merupakan ADUN Bawang Assan memberitahu, mereka pada masa itu menerima formula dan pelan tindakan berkenaan bagi penyelesaian secara baik dengan syarat-syarat perjanjian bahawa 50/50 kuasa perkongsian dalam Jawatankuasa Kerja Pusat SUPP (CWC).

“Ini merupakan surat yang telah kita tulis kepada Ketua Menteri. Bukankah ini bukti wujudnya Formula 50/50?

“Jika tiada formula ini, bagaimana kami berenam berani menulis surat kepada Ketua Menteri dan memberikan salinan kepada Jabatan Pendaftar Pertubuhan (ROS)?,” katanya membalas kenyataan Presiden SUPP Tan Sri Peter Chin pada Ahad lalu yang mencabarnya menunjukkan bukti Formula 50/50.

Mengulas lanjut, Wong menyatakan pihaknya juga telah memberikan senarai 13 anggota CWC selaras dengan permintaan Adenan bagi kedua-dua puak berbuat demikian berdasarkan Formula 50/50.

“Oleh itu, kami telah meminta puak Chin bersetuju dengan pelan hala tuju Adenan dan formula ini sehingga 8 Mei tahun ini.

“Sekiranya tidak (mereka tidak berbuat demikian), dan ia dianggap gagal dan keputusan muktamad berkaitan persidangan perwakilan tiga tahun sekali (TDC) SUPP 2011 kita serahkan kepada ROS .

“Sudah tentu, tidak ada perjanjian kerana dia tidak bersetuju. Tetapi dia tidak boleh menafikan dan mengatakan Formula 50/50 tidak wujud,” jelasnya.

Tambahnya, apabila Ketua Menteri itu meminta kedua-dua puak menyerahkan senarai mereka daripada 13 anggota CWC, Wong berkata tidak ada bukti sahih kerana mereka hanya berjanji secara lisan.

“Kenapa baharu sekarang dia memberi respons apabila kita membangkitkan hal ini?

“Dia hanya menafikan Formula 50/50 selepas menerima surat daripada ROS, menyatakan bahawa tiada pendaftaran.

“Dia berkata itu sah dan oleh itu, tidak ada keperluan bagi formula sedemikian dan meneruskan pemilihan cawangan dan TDC,” jelasnya.

Dalam surat itu juga, terdapat cadangan menangguhkan TDC sehingga selepas Pilihan Raya Negeri (PRN) bagi mengelakkan pertikaian dalaman dan membenarkan parti menumpukan perhatian penuh kepada PRN.

Masa yang sesuai untuk SPDP, SUPP bergabung

Ia ekoran kemunculan TERAS yang dianggap sebagai kuasa baharu yang wajar diberi pertimbangan

KUCHING: Sekarang adalah masa yang sesuai bagi Parti Demokratik Progresif Sarawak (SPDP) dan Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak (SUPP) untuk menghidupkan semula idea menggabungkan kedua-dua parti politik itu.

Penganalisis Politik Dr Jeniri Amir berkata ia ekoran daripada perubahan drastik dalam landskap politik negeri disebabkan kemunculan TERAS yang dianggap oleh ramai pemimpin Barisan Nasional (BN) sebagai kuasa baharu yang wajar diberi pertimbangan serius.

Katanya beliau tidak melihat sebarang masalah bagi BN meneliti idea tersebut bukan sahaja kerana politik adalah sesuatu yang tidak mustahil tetapi juga mungkin mahu penyelesaian ini mengurangkan, jika tidak menamatkan semua perbalahan dan perselisihan dalam BN.

Menurutnya, idea itu bukan sesuatu yang baharu daripadanya kerana pada suatu ketika pada tahun ini, SPDP dan SUPP ada bermain-main dengan idea tersebut selepas ia dicadangkan pada satu majlis makan malam ramah mesra BN dihadiri tetamu kehormat dan Timbalan Presiden SPDP ketika itu Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing di Miri.

Ketika itu Presiden SUPP Tan Sri Peter Chin memberi gambaran beliau bersedia untuk mengadakan perbincangan lanjut mengenai idea itu manakala Tiong membayangkan SPDP terbuka kepada idea tersebut, ujar Jeniri.

Rentetan daripada itu, Setiausaha Agung SPDP Datuk Nelson Balang Rining, Ketua Pemuda SPDP Robert Ayu dan Ketua Wanita SPDP Datuk Chiew Yen Chew muncul dalam laporan media untuk mengisytiharkan sokongan mereka kepada idea itu.

Bagaimanapun kata Jeniri, Tiong dan Chin menafikan mereka telah memulakan idea itu dengan mendakwa mereka tidak pernah berjumpa dengan Menteri Dalam Negeri untuk membincangkan penggabungan dan ia dinafikan selepas Timbalan Presiden SUPP Datuk Richard Riot menolak idea tersebut.

Jeniri berpendapat SPDP dan SUPP mungkin perlu bergabung untuk menambah jumlah kerusi mereka memandangkan TERAS dijangka akan membuat tuntutan mereka ke atas 12 kerusi yang pada asalnya atau mengikut tradisi diperuntukkan oleh BN kepada SPDP (yang melibatkan lima kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) dan dua kerusi Parlimen), SUPP (lima kerusi DUN) dan Parti Rakyat Sarawak atau PRS (melibatkan satu kerusi iaitu DUN Pelagus).

Hakikat ini tidak dapat diketepikan jika BN pada akhirnya nanti membenarkan wakil rakyat dalam TERAS untuk mengekalkan kerusi yang mereka menangi dalam parti lama dan bertanding di sana di bawah TERAS, tambahnya.

Jeniri turut berkata: “Dengan perkembangan terbaharu dalam politik negeri dan menilai daripada sambutan yang positif kepada kemunculan TERAS oleh ramai pemimpin PBB – tonggak dan tulang belakang BN Negeri, saya rasa, sudah tiba masanya bagi SPDP dan SUPP untuk menghidupkan semula idea tentang penggabungan.

“Penggabungan ini juga boleh menjadi penyelesaian menang-menang bagi SPDP-SUPP dan TERAS yang saya lihat sebagai satu penggabungan di antara kumpulan serpihan daripada SUPP, SPDP dan SWP.

“Saya tidak tahu bagaimana reaksi parti komponen BN kepada semua ini tetapi idea penggabungan ini bukan perkara baharu.

“Hakikatnya seluruh BN Negeri perlu bermuhasabah diri dengan mencuba formula baharu bagi mengurangkan perbalahan dan perselisihan yang tidak perlu mengenai kerusi dan dendam peribadi jika mereka tidak mahu pengundi menjadi bosan dengan mereka.

“Penggabungan parti BN tidak mustahil. Ia banyak bergantung kepada tahap komitmen untuk mengurangkan perbalahan supaya mereka dapat memberi khidmat yang lebih baik kepada rakyat. Ingatlah, Pilihan Raya Negeri seterusnya akan diadakan tidak lama lagi,” ujarnya.

“Satu lagi sebab kenapa SPDP dan SUPP harus bergabung ialah kerana kedudukan mereka sekarang digugat oleh kemunculan TERAS.

“Ia adalah paling baik bagi mereka (SPDP dan SUPP) untuk bergabung, kerana mereka pernah menyetujuinya sebelum ini.

“Saya tahu ia tidak semudah ABC kerana mereka memiliki ciri, struktur dan perjuangan asal yang berlainan tetapi tidak ada salahnya mencuba selagi penggabungan itu dapat mengukuhkan lagi BN secara keseluruhannya.

“Jika ada kesediaan, keazaman politik yang kuat, jika semua mereka berfikiran terbuka, sanggup berkompromi dan sangat ikhlas, ia boleh dilakukan.

“Lagipun, jika semua pemimpin TERAS yang berasal daripada pelbagai latar belakang menunjukkan mereka dapat bergabung demi perpaduan BN, kenapa SPDP dan SUPP tidak boleh?” katanya.

Mengenai bantahan beberapa parti pembangkang terhadap TERAS, Jeniri berkata beliau hairan dengan bantahan mereka kerana penggabungan yang mungkin berlaku di antara parti-parti BN tidak ada kaitan dengan parti pembangkang atau mungkin juga mereka bimbang dengan cara baharu yang diamalkan oleh BN dalam tindak-tanduknya.

Mas Gading MP decides to stay put with SPDP

KUCHING: Mas Gading MP Anthony Nogeh has decided to stick with Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP).

He said he will not be following Tan Sri William Mawan, who quit as SPDP president to join Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras).

“I’m not joining Teras, but stay with SPDP,” Nogeh said when contacted yesterday, soon after Mawan announced his decision to quit. With Mawan and Anyie joining Teras, SPDP is now left with two MPs Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (Bintulu) and Nogeh.

Meanwhile, SPDP has four political secretaries to Chief Minister – Paul Igai, Liew Ah Lek, Kijan Toynbee and Peter Howell Jilan.

Later after the press conference when asked whether all of them have decided to join Teras, Mawan replied that two of them are with Teras, while the other two “are on the way” but did not give names.

However, it was reliably believed that Liew and Paul have decided to stay with SPDP, while Kijan and Howell decided to follow the former president.

Mawan was also asked whether Teras will accept former Mas Gading MP Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe, if the latter decided to join the party.

“If he (decided to join Teras), we will give serious consideration since he is a former Mas Gading MP and one of the founders of SPDP,” the Saratok MP said.

Dr Tiki when contacted said he did not want to commit himself on the subject matter at the moment.

“Let me see the situation first, but at the moment I will not want to say anything,” Dr Tiki said.

Peter Chin dares Wong to vacate state seat

KUCHING: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) president Tan Sri Peter Chin (pic) has challenged former SUPP Sibu chief Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh to vacate his Bawang Assan seat.

Chin threw this challenge following Wong’s public announcement yesterday afternoon at a press conference at the State Legislative Assembly here that he had quit SUPP to join the new party Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras).

“He (Wong) should resign from his seat as he has won it as SUPP candidate of Barisan Nasional.

“Now as he has joined another party which is not a BN component party, he should give up his seat,” Chin told The Borneo Post over a telephone interview.

Chin further challenged Wong to test his popularity with Bawang Assan voters.

Wong joined SUPP since 1981. He first contested in Igan constituency in 1987 and lost to David Tiong Chiong Chi of Permas by 23 votes.

In 1991, he stood for SUPP in Bawang Assan and won. This is his fifth term as Bawang Assan state assemblyman.

Responding to Chin’s statement, Wong said Chin did not have the right to ask him to resign as Bawang Assan assemblyman to pave way for a by-election.

He said Chin’s suggestion was a hasty decision that did not take the bigger picture into consideration.

“Whatever will happen next will be decided by the top leadership of BN. Chin does not have to waste his breath to continue to find fault with me. I have decided not to engage in further squabbles with him but put more effort in looking into the interests of the people,” said Wong in a statement.

On his own sacking by SUPP, Wong said Chin’s faction had already held a meeting to sack him some time ago.

“For SUPP to announce that I have been sacked now is meant to cover up what has already been carried out in that meeting. That has been one of the reasons why SUPP grassroots have been bearing grudge against Chin and his faction. We have been suppressed for so long and the grassroots believe that we should not give in anymore,” said the Local Government and Community Development Minister.

See believes Adenan plays a role in Teras episode

KUCHING: Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How says the chief minister and his state government have their finger prints all over on the latest twist in the migration of 11 elected representatives to Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras).

He believed Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem and his cabinet colleagues were sending a message to the federal not to meddle into the affairs of the state Barisan Nasional (BN).

“It is the chief minister and his cabinet colleagues sending a message to federal not to meddle into the state BN’s affairs,” See said.

See said it has been clear that the impasse in the two BN component parties SPDP and SUPP was caused by the federal interference.

“Without his blessings, there is no way two state ministers, four assistant ministers, three BN assemblymen and a BN members of parliament would leave their BN component parties and cross over to Teras.”

See, who is also state PKR vice chairman, added that the state BN or these 10 former BN elected representatives might say that the move was to save BN in the face of troubles in SPDP and SUPP but he believed there was more to it.

“This is a move to reshuffle the cards in the state BN, apparently in accordance with the chief minister’s plan.” See said.

See believed George Lagong is the odd one out among those who jumped into the bandwagon and probably saw it as an opportunity for him to “change his colours”.

Tan Sri William Mawan and Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh yesterday shocked Sarawak with their move to quit their respective parties to join Teras although they had hinted their intention in recent weeks.

Mawan drops Teras bombshell

Mawan (seated centre) addressing a packed press conference to announce that the 10 BN elected representatives are quitting SPDP and SUPP to join Teras. He is flanked by Wong and Nansian (left). — Photo by Chimon Upon

SPDP president, SUPP Sibu branch chief quit parties to join Teras with 8 other BN lawmakers, 1 from SWP

KUCHING: Ten state Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers and Baram MP Anyi Ngau, led by beleaguered party leaders Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom and Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, have quit Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) to join newly-formed Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras).

Joining former SPDP president Mawan and former SUPP Sibu branch chief Wong are state assemblymen Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie (Tasik Biru), Rosey Yunus (Bekenu), Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran (Marudi) and Paulus Palu Gumbang (Batu Danau) from SPDP and Datuk Dr Jerip Susil (Bengoh), Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa (Engkilili) and Ranum Mina (Opar) from SUPP.

A surprise inclusion was opposition Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) deputy president George Lagong who is Pelagus assemblyman.

Mawan made the announcement at a packed press conference held at the media centre of the State Legislative Assembly building after adjournment of the assembly sitting yesterday.

He said his decision to quit followed attempts to “elbow him out” of SPDP because several party leaders were against the recent reinstatement of Nansian, Rosey, Entri and Paulus into the party.

“The reason I brought them back was to strengthen the party. Our decision today is made out of our common desire to continue serving and consolidating Barisan Nasional and solving our problems in SPDP (and SUPP).

“This is not the case of a captain abandoning his ship but more of a mutiny. Somehow, the captain has been thrown overboard. With a big number with us, we hope the state Barisan can accommodate us,” he added.

Mawan said they would apply to become a BN component party.

He believed Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem would work out a formula for them to be included in accordance with the BN Plus arrangement if Teras faced resistance from SUPP or SPDP. Stressing that Teras is a multi-racial party, Mawan called on SPDP and SUPP members to join them in the new political vehicle.

Wong who had been at loggerheads with SUPP president Tan Sri Peter Chin, also spoke at the conference.

“I decided to quit after finding out nothing was forthcoming from the peace plan for SUPP as proposed by the top BN leadership.

“Because of the breakdown in the peace plan, we don’t want to keep quarrelling. We are tired of it. We have to go,” he said.

Asked if there were any other elected representatives who had expressed interest in joining Teras, Mawan said the party is open to all YBs who believe in their struggle.

He said the group was also working to accommodate three state PKR assemblymen – Baru Bian (Ba Kelalan), See Chee How (Batu Lintang) and Ali Biju (Krian) if they were interested to join Teras as part of the party’s consolidation process in preparation for the upcoming state election.

Mawan was adamant, however, that the party had no room for SPDP deputy president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, quipping: “We can’t have two tigers on one mountain.”

Teras’ registration was approved by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) last September. Its current president is Domini Siron Rujin, a general manager of an insurance company here while secretary-general is Banyi Beriak, former SPDP executive secretary.

Teras welcomes 11 new members into its fold

KUCHING: Tan Sri William Mawan and Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh led eight other state Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers to quit their respective parties to join Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras). Among the members are four from Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) namely Datuk Peter Nansian, Datuk Sylvester Entri, Paulus Palu Gumbang, Rosey Yunus and Baram MP Anyi Ngau.

Mawan said the door was still open to other interested representatives including Anthony Nogeh and Wong Judat. He stressed, however, there was no room for SPDP deputy president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.Mawan surprised the room when he announced Teras was also working to accommodate three Parti Keadilan Rakyat representatives if they were interested in joining the political entity.

From Sarawak United Peoples Party, Soon Koh is joined by Dr Johnical Rayong, Dr Jerip Susil and Ranum Mina.A surprise inclusion is Pelagus assemblyman George Lagong of Sarawak Workers Party (SWP).Nansian mentioned that Teras would soon submit its application to join BN. The party will also start working on its new protem committee lineup.With this new lineup, Teras has two ministers and four assistant ministers.

Wong Soon Koh quits SUPP, announces ‘defections’ to Teras

  

KUCHING: Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh has quit the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP).

He is currently holding a press conference on Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras).

The party claims to have 11 elected representatives – four formerly from SUPP, six formerly from the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and former Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) deputy president George Lagong, who is Pelagus assemblyman.

Also at the press conference are former SPDP president Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom and Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie.