'Real Threats Are from Within' Certain State BN Parties Have More Than Just the Opposition to Deal with in the Coming Polls
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Headline Real threats are from within MediaTitle The Star (Kuching) Date 17 Apr 2012 Color Black/white Section NEWS Circulation 293,375 Page No s1,10 Readership 1,026,812 Language English ArticleSize 492 cm² Journalist RAYNORE MERING AdValue RM 2,714 Frequency Daily PR Value RM 8,142 'Real threats are from within' Certain state BN parties have more than just the Opposition to deal with in the coming polls. >S10 COMMENT BY RAYNORE MERING 'Real threats are from within' Certain state BN parties have more than just the Opposition to deal with in the coming polls LOOKING at the events in the state in recent weeks, it appears that the worst enemies for some Barisan Nasional parties this parliamentary elections are them selves. The polls, which could now be held sooner than expected, will cer tainly test every party's resolve and all the bickering can only be expect ed to come to a head as the day of reckoning arrives. Virtually all state Barisan parties have their own issues to deal with — some more than others but the situation seems to be most dire in SPDP. Leaders and exleaders of the party have no qualms about fighting their battles publicly and what's more, doing it all in the name of Barisan Nasional. Problems in the party started after party president Tan Sri William Mawan replaced Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran as the secretarygeneral during a meeting in February 2010. Entri walked out of the meeting fol lowed by four other SPDP elected representatives who would eventu ally call themselves the "Group of Five (G5).". After much back and forth, Mawan finally decided to sack the five end of last year, leaving them with no rea son to hold back their frustrations. Two of SPDP's four parliamentary seats that could suffer as a result of the ongoing SPDPG5 quarrel are Baram and Mas Gading. Marudi, one of the two state seats under Baram, is represented by the main protagonist in the conflict, Headline Real threats are from within MediaTitle The Star (Kuching) Date 17 Apr 2012 Color Black/white Section NEWS Circulation 293,375 Page No s1,10 Readership 1,026,812 Language English ArticleSize 492 cm² Journalist RAYNORE MERING AdValue RM 2,714 Frequency Daily PR Value RM 8,142 Entri, who has been very vocal in his SPDP, on the other hand, is expect lenge the branch's recommenda criticisms against the SPDP leader ed to propose a new face, Anthony tions. ship. Nogeh, as the candidate. Nogeh, who Indeed, political pundits are The leadership is certainly wor is Sarawak Land Consolidation and expecting an unspoken truce ried about how Entri could affect the Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) between Chin and Wong for the Baram incumbent Datuk Jacob deputy general manager, was intro polls but it would be a very fickle Dungau Sagan who is likely to defend duced to the audience at Civic Centre one. All it takes is for someone to say the seat in the coming polls. It also by SPDP deputy president Datuk Seri something out of turn to ignite the does not help that Jacob, the Deputy Tiong King Sing. quarrels again. International Trade and Industry It is quite possible that Mas Gading Wong Ho Leng and Chong Chieng Minister, has come under Opposition could be looking at at least a three Jen, the current MPs of Sibu and fire recently for timber concessions. cornered fight this polls. If Dr Tiki is Bandar Kuching respectively, are The incumbent will most likely dropped by Barisan, there is every expected to defend their seats and a face a fresh candidate from PKR in possibility that he could go at it divided SUPP has a slim chance of the polls. The opposition party has alone. winning against them. identified a young lawyer and pas Another Barisan party that could As for PRS, its president Tan Sri Dr tor, Roland Engan, for the seat. suffer as a result of internal squab James Masing has said it himself, "We chose Roland before the bles is, of course, SUPP. It is believed although cryptically, that there were quarrels in SPDP started but their that the Registrar of Societies (ROS) "enemies within." PRS may just be problems will surely help us," said a dealing with some familiar spirits PKR leader. is holding back its decision on the legality of the recent party election that have haunted it since the break Over in Mas Gading, the battle until after the polls. Miri MP Datuk up ofPBDS. lines were drawn last Saturday when Seri Peter Chin had gone from want PRS's Selangau and Hulu Rajang SPDP, the G5 and DAP held separate ing to retire from the party to being seats are the ones to watch. More so events in the constituency simulta elected unopposed as SUPP presi in Selangau, where it is said that a neously. Quite literally, it was a night dent all within a year. familiar Barisanfriendly face could of DAP against BN against BN (G5). But as far as Sibu SUPP chief Datuk be making a comeback. The G5 event at Redeems Centre in Seri Wong Soon Koh and his group These goings on in the state Singai did not hold back in backing — comprising the majority of SUPP's Barisan certainly raise questions the Mas Gading incumbent, Datuk Dr elected representatives — are con about the health of the coalition. Of Tiki Lafe, for the seat. It is no secret cerned, the party election last late, it appears that the personalities that SPDP will not be renominating December was "unconstitutional" have become more important than Dr Tiki, who was once the party's because of alleged wrongdoings dur their parties and that the coalition is vicepresident, this general election. ing the branch elections. willing to compromise its principles Interestingly, one of those invited In the meantime, however, Chin for the sake of seats. to speak at the G5 event was PRS has been accorded his place in the Even Mawan is himself beginning secretary general Datuk Wilfred state and Federal Barisan Nasional to question this. Nissom, adding weight to talk that supreme council. That said, Prime "When you sack your members SPDP and PRS have a strained rela Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for being indiscipline you say it is in tionship. can expect two lists of proposed the interest of Barisan but when oth "It is important to note that Datuk candidates from SUPP one from ers do the same thing you say it is Dr Tiki and Datuk Peter Nansian Chin and the other, Wong. not good for Barisan. That's not soli (Tasik Biru assemblyman) are elect As it is, the candidacy in at least darity because you only think what ed reps of the Barisan so it is right for three out of SUPP's six seats are still you do is right and what others do is us to support them. What are they up in the air. They are Bandar wrong," he said during the function doing at the Civic Centre if they say Kuching, Sibu and Miri. last Saturday. they are for Barisan?" said Wilfred, Bandar Kuching and Sibu are now It certainly appears that Barisan referring to the SPDP dinner at the represented by DAP; while in Miri, has its hands full this polls because Bau Civic Centre. there's talk that Chin could step not only does it have to do battle And as if on cue, Mawan said at down to focus on his responsibilities with the Opposition, it also has to the Civic Centre that state Barisan as SUPP president. Chin's political face itself. parties must stick together. "I believe secretary, Datuk Sebastian Ting, is that if one party gains, the whole rumoured to be taking over. When you sack your coalition gains, and if one party falls, Sibu will definitely be a hotter members for being the whole coalition falls." seat than Bandar Kuching and indiscipline you say Well, it looks like the only one although the two factions in the who could gain from the quarrel is party are not on speaking terms, it is in the interest DAP's Mordi Bimol, who is aiming to they are certainly aware of their of Barisan but when be one of the first rural DAP elected limitations. representatives. Sibu SUPP has already recom others do the same The Universiti Malaysia Sarawak mended Temenggong Vincent Lau (Unimas) graduate, who had worked for Sibu and Datuk Tiong Thai King thing you say it is not for a while as a journalist, has been to defend Lanang in the coming polls good for Barisan. making his presence felt in Mas and it is unlikely that Chin will chal Gading for a few years now. TAN SRI WILLIAM MAWAN.