Are PRS, SUPP and SPDP afraid of Parti Teras?

By Simon Peter

KUCHING, June 21, 2014: Leaders of the three component parties of the State Barisan Nasional gathered at the residence of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president James Masing this evening at the closing of the Gawai Dayak celebration.

Picture: Displaying their unity. Chin (left), Masing (centre), Tiong and PRS deputy president Joseph Entulu (right) joining hands after the press conference.

In any circumstance, such gathering would be simply looked upon as normal.

But not this one.

The gathering was obviously to display their "political unity" amidst the growing political influence of year old Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) due to the defection of 11 elected representatives from Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Action Party (SPDP) as well as from the Opposition Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) on May 6 this year.

Parti Teras, thus, becomes the second strongest political force, after Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), in Sarawak. Therefore, the leaders of the three parties have every reason to fear Parti Teras and to come up with political strategies so to remain relevant.

In politics, number game is very important and crucial for a political party. The more elected representative a political party has, the stronger it will be.

Masing was at pain telling reporters that the three parties - PRS, SUPP and SPDP - are not scared of Parti Teras' political strength.

According to Masing, PBB leaders were invited to attend the closing of the Gawai celebration at his residence, but they were "committed elsewhere".

Therefore, their absence should not be interpreted negatively.

Masing, who is also the Land Development, repeatedly mentioned "honest and fair game" must prevail within BN to maintain unity.

"All component parties must show their sincerity to BN," he said.

He insisted that PRS, SUPP and SPDP will "strongly object" to the admission of Parti Teras into the BN grouping.

"Even one of us in the BN opposes, Parti Teras will not be admitted as a component party of BN," he stressed.

He said that there will be no peace in BN if Parti Teras and another newly registered party, Party Peace, were to be admitted.

"Naturally, there will be no peace," he said.

It was rumoured that former SUPP branch chief Wong Soon Koh, who is also Minister of Local Government and Community Development, was said to have left Parti Teras to join Party Peace.

Wong, who left SUPP and joined Parti Teras together with SPDP president William Mawan, has since denied joining Party Peace.

When asked whether it will be tough to solve the problems facing the BN now, Masing said it is, but "I am sure that Chief Minister Adenan Satem will be able to solve it."

He agreed with SUPP president Peter Chin Fah Kui and SPDP acting president Tiong King Sing that problems within the state BN must be solved before the next state election.

He said unsolved problems will affect BN chances in the election, benefitting only Pakatan Rakyat.

He said that the BN itself does not have internal problems, but the problems crop up because two state ministers and four assistant ministers have joined Parti Teras.

As such, he said, things become complicated.

He said they remain as ministers and assistant ministers because the chief minister want them to continue holding onto their positions.

Masing does not believe that PBB is secretly supporting Parti Teras.

He said PBB leaders are sincere with the BN component parties and will not backstabbing their friends.