An analysis on SPDP’s chances in the parliamentary election
Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) is facing the toughest battles in the four seats it is contesting in the parliamentary election on May 5.
Only party deputy president Tiong King Sing is a good bet to retain his Bintulu seat.
However, party president William Mawan is fighting an uphill battle in Saratok after the resignation of a large number of party members to protest against candidacy.
Those who resigned include the party’s grassroots leaders.
It is even reported that deputy transport minister Jelaing Mersat is opposing Mawan’s move to contest in Saratok.
Jelaing was strongly tipped to defend his Saratok seat. He was said to have been replaced as the SPDP-BN candidate at the last minute as it was felt that he would not stand a chance against Ali Biju of PKR.
It was Ali who defeated SPDP deputy president Peter Nyarok in Krian in the 2011 state election.
Mawan, in response to reporters’ questions, had stressed that his move to contest in Saratok was to take the lead in the party’s battle in the four seats.
As president of the party, he said he would be responsible for whatever the outcomes of the contests in the four seats would be.
He claimed that the BN leadership decided to pick him to replace Jelaing after getting “unfavourable” ground reports.
In Mas Gading, SPDP’s Anthony Nogeh will be fighting for survival should incumbent Tiki Lafe decides to enter the fray.
With the support of BN Club members, Tiki would have an edge over Nogeh, a political novice.
Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) members in Mas Gading are also backing Tiki, who was sacked from SPDP in 2011, along with four other senior members, who are also elected representatives, for alleged breaching party discipline.
The others four are Bekenu State Assemblywoman and Assistant Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Rosey Yunus, Batu Danau State Assemblyman Paulus Gumbang, Marudi State Assemblyman and Assistant Minister of Public Utilities Sylvester Entrie and Tasik Biru State Assemblyman and Assistant Minister of Industrial Development Peter Nansian.
After they were dismissed from the party, they formed BN Club as a channel for them to air their political views.
DAP’s Modi Bimol and State Reform Party’s (Star) Patrick Anek Uren are also expected to contest in Mas Gading.
SPDP is also facing a tough fight in Baram after incumbent Member of Parliament Jacob Sagan Dungau is not picked to defend the seat.
Over 100 influential SPDP grassroots leaders in Baram have rebelled against the candidacy of Anyi Ngau, who has been assigned to retain the seat for BN.
They claimed that they were not consulted when SPDP and BN leadership decided to pick Ngau instead of Sagan.
They were also unhappy that Ngau is not a party supporter, but is closely associated with the PBB leadership.
Apart from the anti-Anyi stance by the community and grassroots leaders, SPDP has to face to the anti-Baram dam protesters.
At least five Miri-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are spearheading the anti-dam campaign as well as to campaign for the PKR candidate.
Over 20,000 people from 25 villages are to be displaced once the construction begins.
One possible reason for replacing Sagan with Anyi is to secure the support of the Iban voters from Marudi, one of the two state seats under Baram parliamentary constituency. The other is Telang Usan, which is held by Dennis Ngau of PBB.
In the 2008 parliamentary election, Sagan won because more Ibans,- the largest single race in Baram - were giving their support to him. However, he received lesser votes from the Kenyah, Kayan and Kelabit communities.
He managed to get the Iban support largely due to the influence of Sylvester Entrie, the Marudi State Assemblyman.
Now that Sylvester Entrie is no longer with SPDP after he was sacked, the support from the Ibans for Sagan would be weakened.
Sylvester Entrie has indicated that he would stay away from Baram if Sagan is nominated again to contest, but pledged to campaign for the BN if other candidate is chosen.
Baram is expected to see a three-cornered or even a four-cornered fight.
PKR is fielding lawyer Roland Engan and it is believed that a PKR member may contest as an Independent.
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