We will oppose if four allowed to join a BN party, warns Mawan

Kuching (Jan 15, 2012): Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) made it clear today that it will oppose any move by other component party of the State Barisan Nasional to accept its four former elected representatives who had left the party early this month.

“We will not allow that to happen,” SPDP president Tan Sri William Mawan said to reporters after chairing the party supreme council meeting here.

Mawan, who is also the Social Development Minister, was asked to comment on reports that the four – Datuk Peter Nansian, Rosey Yunus, Paulus Gumbang and Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe – might apply to join a component party of the Barisan Nasional.

The four left the party, citing losing in confidence of the leadership as the reason.

Asked what was SPDP’s stand if the four were allowed to be “parked” in other component party  since they were supportive of the Barisan Nasional, Mawan replied:”That will never be the case. That’s unprecedented, and that is well understood a long time ago.”

Mawan said anyone could say anything on the position of the four, not because they did not know, but rather to cause confusion on the grounds.

“I tell them (other component parties) off if they want to park or accept the four into their fold,” he said.

Mawan said the party had decided to disengage itself with the four so not to cause confusion on the grounds that might constrain the party from preparing itself for the coming general election.

“We have formally decided to terminate their membership with the party with immediate effect.

“They have long dissociated themselves from the party’s activities to the extent that they were no longer with us,” he added.

“As such, they are no longer with us, and by extension, the Barisan Nasional, and if they profess to support the Barisan Nasional, well and good, but not within its framework,” he said.

Mawan said if their support was not in line with the principle of the Barisan Nasional, then it could cause a lot of problems, especially the relationship among the component parties.

He said he did not want other component parties to get involve in how SPDP handled its former elected representatives.

“It can create a very dangerous precedence. I shudder to think of the consequences,” he warned.

Meanwhile, SPDP will hold its triennial general meeting on March 17 in Bintulu.

Mawan said the TGM would, among other, prepare the party for the coming general election. By Sematong Express

We may seek alliance with other parties in future, says Jugol

Kuching  (Jan 15, 2012):  Sarawak National Party (SNAP) does not rule out the possibility of  seeking an alliance with other political parties in future, its newly elected president Stanley Jugol said yesterday.

“Politics is such that it is very fluid, anything can happen. So we don’t rule out such possibility,” he told reporters after the party’s 17^th triennial general meeting here.

He added:”We believe in a two-party system. We can be either part of the ruling Barisan Nasional or the Pakatan Rakyat.”

Jugol said SNAP, however, had abandoned a proposal to merge with the DAP “because we found it to be not workable”.

“We also believe in the Borneo Agenda as propagated by Sabah politician Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

“We believe that Sarawak has been deprived of many things under the 18 Point Agreement which formed the basis for Sarawak to form the Federation of Malaysia,” he said.

“But for now, we want to consolidate our strengths by regularising our party divisions.

“We need to do this because after the party has split many times before, we are not sure who our members are,” Jugol said.

 He said only genuine members would be allowed to hold office in the divisions.

Meanwhile, Jugol and other office bearers of the party were all elected unopposed.

The deputy president is accountant Kebing Wan while the senior vice president is hotelier Johnny Wong Sie Lee.

The five vice presidents are retired senior customs officer Frankie Jurem Nyombui, lawyers  Dayrell Walter Entrie and Anthony Liman Sujang, businessman Roland Teo Yuk Tong and oil palm plantation manager Dan Giang.

Former Sessions Court judge Augustine Liom and retired state welfare officer Abang Othman Abang Gom were made the appointed vice presidents.

Jurem was also appointed the new secretary-general while Datuk Seri Dennis Chang Foh Onn remains as the treasurer-general.

The post of deputy secretary-general went to Paul Kadang with Entalai Munan as the deputy treasurer-general.

The organising secretary went to Lucius Jimbon, publicity officer to Lawrence Cosmas Sunang and financial officer,  Simijie Janting.

Jugol said the new line-up consisted of veterans party members and new faces, who were professionals.

He brushed aside criticisms that today’s TGM was illegally held because the Registrar of Societies (ROS) had not completed its investigation into claims of irregularities by one of its former members Michael Lias.

Today’s TGM was a postponement from the Sept 15, 2011 after it was found that Lias, who was contesting for the president’s post, was found to be a member of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) as well.

Lias insisted that he was a SNAP member.

He had also lodged a report with ROS that he had every right to contest a post in the party.

SNAP constitution does not allow dual membership.

Lias, in his press statement, called today’s TGM illegal and urged party members to stay away from it.

Jugol said Lias had right to call on party members to stay away from the TGM since he was no longer a member of the party. by Sematong Express