Joseph Tawie
Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) president William Mawan today took a covert swipe at Chief Minister Taib Mahmud for his assurance to the infamous ‘Gang 5′ that they will remain in Barisan Nasional.
Warning component parties of BN not to interfere, Mawan said: “Don’t bully us all the time.
“We may be small and quite down (now), but just like anybody else we also have hearts and minds of our own,’ he said.
Although Mawan, who is Social Development Minister, did not specifically name any particular party in the state BN coalition, it was obvious he was referring to Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), which of late is seen to be meddling in SPDP affairs.
Taib is PBB and Sarawak BN chairman. Last week he said that he would find a place within BN for the four expelled SPDP elected representatives dubbed as the ‘G5′ members.
He said he would do this as long as they remained loyal to the Barisan Nasional.
Taib made the comment on hearing that the four would join any of the existing BN component parties after SPDP said it would be selective over who it wants to take in.
The four are Peter Nansian (Tasik Biru), Sylvester Entri (Marudi), Paulus Palu Gumbang (Batu Danau) and Rosey Yunus (Bekenu). The fifth member is former MP for Mas Gading Tiki Lafe.
They were expelled from SPDP after committing gross indiscipline against the party leadership and constitution in November in 2011.
Taib advised the group not to be in a hurry to join any BN party although the door for their return to SPDP had been closed.
“I think they should not be in a hurry to do so, but my guarantee to them is we don’t kick people out if they are intensely very loyal to BN and we will find some accommodation for them somehow,” Taib had reportedly said.
High degree of loyalty
Responding to Taib’s remark, Mawan said: “As far as SPDP is concerned, they are against us and we are part of Barisan Nasional.
“I have to say what I have to say; I have to do what I have to do, and you can’t expect me to be talking about people who are not my members.
“They may not be doing damage to BN, but doing damage to the party, and you must understand that SPDP is part of BN.
He said SPDP had done nothing wrong in relation to the five.
“I have been asking myself what have we done wrong or where have we gone wrong. Nothing, I don’t think we can continue to be bullied.
“We have a extremely high degree of loyalty to BN.
“And this is in the name of serving the people. The party exists for this purpose and we are going to stand by that,” Mawan added.
PBB with 35 state elected representatives is the backbone of the state government compared with SPDP which now has only one assemblyman in Mawan. The four state elected representatives who won their seat on the SPDP ticket were expelled and another elected representative Wong Judat quit the party last year.
SPDP, however, has four MPs.
Hornbill Unleashed 
POLITICS=POWER=MONEY. The G5 ( RENTAP – Rosey, Entrie (Effendy Abdullah), Nonsense, Tiki, Paulus) will follow any political party, any political party which is more rewarding, remunerative and ringgit enriching. The analysis is rather simple.
Comment by robinhood — August 11, 2013 @ 5:33 PM |
The best option is to close shop and join DAP
Comment by tigeryk — August 11, 2013 @ 5:14 AM |
Then stop supporting taib. Break away from his clutches and start afresh with the opposition. There is no point complaining when at the end of the day, you still run to taib for the sugar!
Comment by brian — August 10, 2013 @ 11:49 AM |
JESUS SAID ” DO NOT DO UNTO OTHERS WHAT YOU DO NOT WANT OTHERS TO DO UNTO YOU”. The spirit of the late James Wong (SNAP) is still roaming. If you are punished for your sins while you are still alive,the chances of you going to Heaven is still there. If,however, you still enjoys your life until your death despite being a great sinner, your guaranteed destiny is HELL……………..
Comment by Ayen Piyat Tawai — August 9, 2013 @ 11:26 AM |
Mawan, your balls had been squeezed because you are just as corrupted as the paramount thief minister, Taib Mahmud, althought your ill gotten wealth is just a fraction of Taib’s. With idiots and crooks like you supporting Taib Mahmud for the last three decades, you had robbed your own community in rural Sarawak of their future and NCR lands. What is there to complain?
Comment by Mata Kuching — August 8, 2013 @ 7:52 PM |
Only now you realised you been bullied?
Comment by Rod — August 8, 2013 @ 4:46 PM |
the best business is mind your own business, when you meddle into someone’s business, you may get verbal or written punishment. To Mawan, do anything that you think is right, you have been in politics for so long. So, I believe you understand these political games clearly.
Comment by dayakthinker — August 8, 2013 @ 12:57 PM |
I notice there is great similarity between the present leadership in SPDP to those in SNAP in the late ’70sd and early ’80s. Then things went too awry that the party broke up and a splinter group was formed in the name of PBDS.
Before Mawan took up the mettle of leadership the early SPDP after SNAP due to a prolong struggle between feuding leaders had broken up and its splinter group formed SPDP, its leadership was helmed by late Peter Tingom. After Mawan started leading the party, I notice it, the leadership has trended along the same path as its predecessor. That trend culminated in the split with the Group of 5. Maybe that is the fate of any party having its link to SNAP. Maybe it is the curse of its founding father, Datuk Kalong Ningkan, who as the first Chief Minister of Sarawak after our Independence on the 22nd July, 1963 was toppled by Tun Abdul Razak, then PM of Malaysia whose power to do so was in the exercise of that power conferred by a proclamation or declaration of Emergency in 1965. He was replaced by late Tawi Sli, a puppet Chief Minister, when then all powers were in the hand of a Federal Secretary, then a de facto ruler of Sarawak, appointed directly by Kuala Lumpur.
I suppose Mawan can blame its predicament on anybody and the supposed PBB back stabbing. But he must also appreciate that the G5 after they were dismissed has to find shelter, and in PBB. Cannot blame them really. After all Mawan himself oftentimes had to find solace in the arm of PBB and CM as well. Why not? After all CM Taib is the Chief and who has to be fair and be seen to be fair. Indeed CM is fair to G5 and even to Mawan when he says to maintain the status quo regarding the position of G5 viz-a-viz SPDP, isn’t it.? If Mawan is feeling any unfairness why the door is always open? But to demand that CM Taib take him and all his words and to isolate the G5, it does make sense. Politic is a game of numbers: Four (4) ADUN in the G5 is better than in SPDP of one (1) ADUN in Mawan himself alone. Surely CM Taib wants to retain everybody and including those dismissed by Mawan, to be seen to be fair. And he wants everybody in BN happy to afford him a good environment to rule Sarawak.
As an outsider of SPDP but a no stranger to politcs of SNAP of those times, I find it strange that Mawan is questioning about the indispensability of the G5. Why, since he has always placed full trust in BN top leadership meaning CM Taib, would he not allow CM Taib to determine the fate of G5? And since CM Taib has said he would look after the interest of G5, why would Mawan claims of “discrimination”? Again if there is discrimination Mawan can choose to go through the open door. He is a party of one ADUN, why talk too much? Or if the skirt of BN is always too comfy, don’t talk – just dance the tune!.
Comment by Patrick Anek Uren — August 8, 2013 @ 12:46 PM |