Nansian: SPDP strongman against merger

Source: NST Online

KUCHING: The proposed merger between the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) has not materialised due to the objections of a certain “powerful individual” in SPDP, said SPDP senior vice-president Datuk Peter Nansian.

Nansian told a press conference at the PRS headquarters here yesterday that a majority of SPDP and PRS leaders had agreed on the merger of the two Dayak-based parties but neither they nor SPDP president Datuk Seri William Mawan could take any step forward as “someone else was controlling the situation”.

Talks on the merger stalled two years ago when PRS objected to the inclusion of certain personalities in the current SPDP leadership.

“Mawan is a very good, kind and honest man. We have no quarrels or misunderstandings but it is a fact and we all know that he is being tied down by someone in the party,” Nansian said.

When asked to name the person said to be “controlling” Mawan, Nansian, who is also the Tasik Biru state assemblyman, said there was no need for him to mention any name as it was an open secret.

“Because of this prevailing situation we are doing our president a favour by having the meetings with PRS and kickstarting the merger because he could not do it. We want to do what we have to do and what the people want us to do. The rakyat want an honest party that can help them and not a party that is being controlled by one person.”

He said the pro-merger group of leaders from SPDP were pushing for an immediate merger with PRS to strengthen Barisan Nasional (BN) and consolidate rural-based constituencies in the state.

He also said the proposed merger was agreed upon by the SPDP supreme council while the BN leadership at state-level also agreed (to the merger) in principle.

Nansian, who is also state assistant minister of environment, said the pro-merger group of leaders wanted to answer the call of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to put the people, and not self-interest, first.

PRS president Datuk Seri James Jemut Masing, who was also present at the press conference, reiterated his earlier stand that PRS was all for the merger in the best interests of the people, particularly rural folk in the state.

“What the (pro-merger) group did is just fulfilling the wishes of PRS and SPDP members. I accept their move and I laud their courage to take the risk for the good of the rural populace.

“The group’s move is done with the sole objective of realising our longstanding dream and vision of consolidating rural-based constituencies which both PRS and SPDP leaders initiated five years ago,” Masing said, adding that the merger could be a long-drawn-out process.

He said both sides had agreed to form a special committee to handle all matters pertaining to the “marriage”.

“With state elections coming anytime soon, our rural constituencies are going to be a battlefield. We cannot afford to waste time. We need to strengthen our constituencies.”

The senior state politician further added that his main intention to engage the pro-merger group from SPDP was to strengthen the rural-based constituencies and help SPDP, on condition that the merger must be inclusive and not exclusive.

“I am open to all SPDP members except those who have been trouble-makers to the party.”

Also present were former SPDP secretary-general Sylvester Entrie, SPDP Bekenu state assemblywoman Rosey Yunus and SPDP Batu Danau state assemblyman Paulus Gumbang, PRS secretary-general Datuk Wilfred Nissom, Youth chief Mong Dagang and vice-president John Sikie Tayai.

RM3.4billion of infrastructure to be delivered in the next three years. Roads, treated water supplies and electricity. Even now the areas held by these politicians lack all those infrastructure. And, yet they have so much time politicking!

By the time they are settled down, all the fund will be gone, and there goes the Dayak-majority areas again – left behind!