SPDP declares war on Teras in Sarawak polls

Joseph Tawie

Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) president Tiong King Sing has declared that Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) is the ‘horrible enemy’ of his party in the coming state election.

“Teras is going to be our horrible enemy in the eight state seats that SPDP will be contesting,” he told Malaysiakini today.

The seats are Tasik Biru, Pakan, Meluan, Krian, Bekenu, Marudi, Ba’Kelalan and Batu Danau.

Five of them are in the hands of Teras while two – Krian and Ba’Kelalan – are held by Sarawak PKR. Meluan is held by the Sarawak Workers Party.

“We are ready to fight them to defend our traditional seats, and we consider them to be our enemy,” Tiong  said.

Teras was formed last year by sacked SPDP leaders and four state ssemblypersons.

Social Development Minister William Mawan Ikom resigned as SPDP President in May this year and joined Teras.

He was elected president in July at the party’s inaugural triennial general assembly.

Teras leaders have announced publicly that the five seats are theirs.

They have also indicated interest in  contesting Krian, Meluan and Ba’Kelalan.

Tiong said his party’s stand is not to surrender any of the eight seats. “We will fight them at all costs”, he said.

SPDP has already identified several candidates, including shortlisting five for the seat of Pakan where Mawan is the incumbent.

As a political observer said: “The strong stand taken by both parties are giving Chief Minister Adenan Satem who is the state Barisan Nasional chairperson a big headache.

“If this is badly handled, it could backfire on the state BN in the coming election.”