Did Mawan really beat the odds?

Joseph Tawie

Embattled and coming-from-behind SPDP is now a stronger party, having retained its four parliamentary seats – Saratok, Mas Gading, Baram and Bintulu – despite the odds.

SPDP, an acronym for Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party, was tipped to lose at least three seats – Saratok, Baram and Mas Gading – in the 13th general election.

But the wins have now further strengthened the party and its president William Mawan, who risked reputation and political power when he volunteered to contest the Saratok parliamentary seat.

Saratok and Baram are two of the 27 seats that opposition PKR is studying for electoral irregularities. In Baram SPDP’s Anyi Ngau retained the seat with a 194 vote majority over PKR’s Roland Engan and Independent Patrick Sibat..

SPDP’s Mawan battles for his political life

Dukau Papau

Social Development Minister William Mawan Ikom, who is also Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) president, is in the biggest ‘dilemma’ of his political life, after Meluan assemblyperson Wong Judat and his followers abandoned the party in early September this year.

Judat and his group’s departure was the third stage of mass resignations.

The first was when its secretary-general Sylvester Entri, who is the Marudi assemblyperson was sacked from the party in October last year for gross indiscipline. Several hundreds of Entri’s supporters in Marudi also subsquently resigned.

And the third stage was when three other assemblypersons namely Peter Nansian (Tasik Biru), Rosey Yunus (Bekenu) and Paulus Gumbang (Batu Danau) and their supporter left the party one month later as a result of Entri’s expulsion.