SPDP5, let us know when you are free to attend the Supreme Council meeting

SIBU, June 15(Bernama) — Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) is preparing on how to effectively deal with the opposition’s very aggressive and destructive campaigning style in facing the coming parliamentary election for the state.

“We should be able to convincingly address all issues including the lies, fabrications and accusations against us,” said its president Tan Sri William Mawan.

“I believe not just the SPDP but all the state Barisan Nasional (BN)component parties should work together as a team in this direction as we all are the targets,” he added at a news conference after chairing the party’s supreme council meeting and post-mortem on its performance in the recent state election, here, today.

Mawan said it was this unprecedented destructive way which even attacked established social values and norms, which had contributed to the defeat of its two candidates.

Its deputy president Datuk Peter Nyarok was defeated in Krian by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) newcomer Ali Biju, while its Youth leader Willie Liau suffered defeat at the hands of state PKR chairman Baru Bian in Ba’Kelalan.

He said in Ba’Kelalan, it was also a case of the wrong candidate being fielded, whereas the incumbent Nelson Balang Rining who was not renominated, had established himself and prepared his machinery quite well.

“When Liau was selected, we had very limited time to introduce and promote him among the voters while Baru had been on the ground for quite a while,” he said.

Mawan said a detailed and transparent report on the party’s performance would be submitted soon to the state and federal BN headquarters, and to Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Meanwhile, he said the success of the opposition in winning 15 seats and independent, one, would be shortlived.

“They do not have the answers nor the solutions to the problems or aspirations of the people.

“Solving or meeting these still lies with the BN government, and the people will soon realise this.”

On the conspicuous absence of the so-called gang of five elected representatives of the party at today’s four-hour meeting, Mawan said they had given their reasons for not coming.

But whatever it is, I am ready to hold another supreme council meeting to suit their convenience,” he said.

The five who were absent were SPDP senior vice-president Datuk Peter Nansian(Tasik Biru assemblyman), Sylvester Entri Muran (Marudi), Rosey Yunus (Bekenu), Paulus Palu Gumbang (Batu Danau) and Dr Tiki Lafe (member of parliament for Mas Gading).

On the coming parliamentary election, he said as far as SPDP was concerned, all its four incumbents, namely Datuk Jacob Dungau Sangan (Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister), Jelaing Mersat (Deputy Transport Minister), Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe, it would recommend that they be allowed to defend their seats. — BERNAMA

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