Mawan quits SPDP, Wong SUPP

(Seated from left) Nansian, Mawan and Wong speaking at the press conference with the other assemblymen.

KUCHING: Sarawak’s political landscape has changed remarkably, with the quitting of members from factions within SPDP and SUPP, who have united under a new party called Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras).

Those who have quit comprise the majority of elected representatives from the two Barisan parties with Tan Sri William Mawan vacating his SPDP presidentship and Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh leaving SUPP and his powerful Sibu chairman post.

Mawan, who himself is both assemblyman and MP, brings with him four state assemblymen (members of the G4) and an MP in Baram’s Anyie Ngau.

Members aligned to Wong include assemblymen Dr Jerip Susil (Bengoh), Ranum Mina (Opar) and Dr Johnical Rayong (Engkilili). Wong is Sibu assemblyman.

Unexpectedly, SWP deputy president George Lagong has also switched camps, appearing at the same press conference yesterday when the stunning move was announced.

All together, Teras claims the allegiance of 11 assemblymen and two MPs, thus making it the second largest pro-Barisan party in Sarawak after PBB.

Mawan was first to speak to reporters at a hastily arranged press conference which began at 4.40pm at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly, moments after Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem had concluded his speech in the August House.

He began by saying he was not a “captain abandoning the ship, but a case of mutiny”.

Wong said he was “forced out” of SUPP.

Another senior politician who spoke, Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie, formerly with SPDP, said members could not long face the “untenable” situations in the parties, and that Teras would “strengthen” Barisan.

Mawan further clarified: “Out of a common desire to serve, to consolidate Barisan, to solve quarrels, we are here today, and I announce I quit as president of SPDP,” adding Teras was not against Barisan,

“I’ve been under siege as president. Even my Wanita wing, my Youth, my deputy president as well, were really going out against me for no apparent reason. The only reason seems to be because I brought in — the readmission of — four senior leaders, who include assemblymen and ministers, to come back to the party.”

Nansian, one of the four readmitted SPDP members, was next to speak, saying: “We agreed to come together as a bigger entity to serve the rakyat. We will work as a team.

“With Wong, he will take charge of efforts to rally the Chinese behind Barisan. He has now a bigger entity to back him up.”

Wong said members were leaving SUPP due to the breakdown of the most recent “peace talks” with the faction led by Tan Sri Peter Chin, who is party president. Wong claimed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had backed the peace proposal.

“There was a peace proposal from Barisan’s top leadership. I can tell you, the PM called me up over the phone... he asked me whether or not I will accept the peace plan,” Wong said.

But the plan failed after SUPP president Tan Sri Peter Chin denied the peace proposal in the media, Wong said.

“In the press you can read that the so-called party president said he was not aware of such a formula. We felt there was no sincerity... I think all of us, my colleagues here, agree with me that we really got tired of all the squabbling.”

The trio of party leaders, who are all Sarawak Cabinet members, were at pains to point out Teras would apply to join Barisan. For now, they called their arrangement “Barisan Plus” — aligned to the coalition but without being a coalition member party.

Mawan himself explained it was Barisan’s rule that unanimous agreement must be reached for new parties to join the coalition.

“We put our request to the state Barisan to be included somehow or along that Barisan Plus formula, which has been adopted before. We will be very grateful if the Barisan as a whole can accommodate us,” Mawan said.

On candidacy in the next state election, he said: “Ask the Chief Minister. They have said (it’s about) winnability. That’s fair.”

He said they would continue to serve as Barisan ministers in the state government. From SPDP to Teras are Nansian (Tasik Biru, a state assistant minister), Sylvester Entri (Marudi, also assistant minister), Rosey Yunus (Bekenu), Paulus Palu Gumbang (Batu Danau) and Anyi.

Mawan himself is Saratok MP.

From SUPP to Teras are Wong (Bawang Assan, state minister), Dr Jerip (Bengoh, assistant minister), Ranum and Dr Rayong.

The political support of other SPDP and SUPP elected representatives like Anthony Nogeh (Mas Gading MP) and Datuk Seri Richard Riot (Serian MP, federal minister) was unclear at press time.

Also unclear was the leadership structure at Teras.

When the question was posed at the press conference yesterday, Nansian replied: “We’ll follow the procedure... We just quit.”