Single BN party not ideal in Malaysia

Masing: Current structure of many component members allow everyone an equal say

KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Dato Sri Dr James Masing did not think a single Barisan Nasional (BN) party would work in a multi-racial and multi-cultural Malaysia. He said the current BN structure of many component members allowed everyone an equal say in the policy making of the country and the state. As such, he pointed out that the current BN structure was still the best because it catered for everyone.

“I don’t think we are ready for it (single BN party) due to the fact that we are very multi-racial and multi-cultural. If we have a single party, the smaller ones will be submerged and their voices will not be heard. Just because we fail in one election, it doesn’t mean BN doesn’t work. It can work and it will work,” he told reporters here yesterday.

Masing was commenting on the suggestions made by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) president Datuk M Kayveas for all 14 BN parties to be dissolved and a new BN party formed. Asked to comment on the ongoing talks between BN backbone party Umno and opposition party PAS, he said PRS was not against it for as long as the existence of other racial groups were not ignored.

“I am not offended by this, because to me, that (the talks) is basically among Malays who are of same culture and same religious background, so let them talk. I think the other BN component parties that are non-Malays should not be offended by it. Let them talk among themselves provided that they do not ignore the existence of other racial groups,” he added.

“If MCA were to talk to Gerakan and Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) on Chinese unity, they also have the right, and let them do so but do not ignore the others. That is very important in a multi-racial society like Malaysia.” Masing earlier attended the Discussion on Poverty and Development in Sarawak held in connection with the visit by the first holder of the Royal Professor Ungku Aziz Chair, Professor Jeffrey D Sachs.

Merger for greater leverage : Mawan

PAKAN: The main intention of merging Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) is to prevent them from being pitted against each other by irresponsible quarters in future. This was pointed out by SPDP president Dato Sri William Mawan when he replied to a question from the floor during a dialogue session at Rumah Abi Gayan, a 16-door Iban longhouse by Amut Tengah River in Pakan yesterday. After requesting anonymity, the questioner asked Mawan about the progress of the proposed SPDP-PRS merger which he said was widely reported in the media and had caught the attention of many longhouse people. Mawan said the committees from both parties were still engaged in negotiations. The SPDP committee was headed by deputy president Datuk Peter Nyarok while PRS’ was headed by Datuk Dublin Unting. They were supposed to report to their respective party presidents.

SEEDS OF UNITY

Mawan (sixth left) plants a tree to mark his visit to Rumah Abi Gayan, Sungai Amut Tengah, Pakan as (from second left) Sylvester, Paul, Inting, Abi, Dundang and others look on

“As far as I know, there has been no concrete action yet. I hope nobody would get offended if I describe the process at this point as ‘only lightning and thunder, but no rain’,” said Mawan. On the possibility of being pitted against each other, he said if it happened it would be aimed at destabilising the BN at both state and federal levels.

“Mathematically, SPDP and PRS are politically weak although we are part of the ruling BN government,” he said. Singly, he said, the parties have a small number of MPs and assemblymen, which is “weak representation and leverage” and, therefore, puts them in a ‘risky position’ as the more dominant quarters can exploit them easily. If we merge and have a united voice, our increased strength due to greater representation and political leverage would shield us from unscrupulous elements,” he said.

Currently SPDP has four members of parliament (MPs) - Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Jacob Dunggau Sagan, Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Industry Jelaing Mersat, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe. The party has eight assemblymen - Mawan himself, Assistant Minister of Cooperative Development Datuk Peter Nyarok, Assistant Minister of Public Utility (Water Supply) Sylvester Entri, Peter Nansian, Rosey Yunus, Wong Judat, Nelson Balang and Paulus Palu Gumbang.

PRS has six MPs - Deputy Minister of Water, Energy and Communications Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum; Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Joseph Entulu; Datuk Billy Abit Joo; Aaron Dagang; Masir Kujat; and William Nyallau. The party’s eight assemblymen are Land Development Minister Dato Sri Dr James Masing, Assistant Minister of Youth Datuk Dublin Unting, Assistant Minister of Industrial Development and Planning Larry Sng, Joseph Mauh, John Sikie, Liwan Lagang, Mong Dagang and Snowdan Lawan.

If a merged entity comes into being, it would have at least 14 MPs and 16 assemblymen, thus becoming the second biggest BN component party in Sarawak after Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) headed by Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud. It was reported recently that Taib suggested the new entity could then merge with PBB in future for a stronger BN. Another BN partner is Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP). Among those present at the dialogue yesterday were a political secretary to the chief minister Paul Igai, Acting Pakan District Officer Inting Nyami, Special Affairs Department (Jasa) coordinator for Julau Sylvester Embuas, Penghulu Dundang Jalin, host Tuai Rumah Abi Gayan and nine other longhouse chiefs from Sungai Amut-Sungai Genega area.

Don’t fear merger, says Mawan

KUCHING: The proposed merger of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) should not alarm any party, said Dato Sri William Mawan Ikom. “Nobody need to fear about the proposed merger of SPDP and PRS as we are in for good purposes and intentions,” the SPDP president told reporters at his office at Bangunan Baitulmakmur in Petra Jaya yesterday.

Mawan : Proposal to merge SPDP and PRS should not alarm any party as it has good intentions

He said SPDP, as a multiracial party, was committed to be always loyal, friendly and a team worker as far as unity in the country and unity in the government was concerned. Mawan said the merger was a serious effort and something that was broad-based and a long-term planning to consolidate not only BN component parties in the state but also the Dayak community.

“We have given a very thorough thought into this merger as a party and that’s why we put a very solid and deep commitment into it long time ago by forming our committee which is headed by our deputy president and a lot of senior members,” he added. He said PRS were also very keen on the merger - except for their problems.

“After they got their problems solved, they revived the idea in full force and the committees met,” Mawan said. According to Mawan, it was very important for both parties to focus on areas that they have common understanding and not areas of disagreement, which could further confuse them and members of their parties.

“I think the vehicle, the venues and a few of the areas where people will unite together are very important. What we have highlighted all this while are the areas where we can work together, where members who are probably not in agreement now will be able to congregate and know one another. So I guess those are good platforms where unity can be achieved,” said Mawan.

“But we can’t presume things because if you presume things by analyzing things here and there then you will confuse and scare the people. If the majority feel that it is good and in the interest of the community and the Dayaks… and also in the interest of BN solidarity especially with the sort of political scenario we have, and that the election is coming, we need to focus on some areas where we have a lot of understanding and agreement,” said Mawan.

Mawan said the party had put a lot of trust and confidence in its committee and he would not intervene in its activities. “We have heard their presentations, progress reports during our supreme council meetings,” said Mawan. “It’s not as the party president that I jump overboard. We do have a few positions of hierarchy in which we will be guided by the findings of various committees,” he added.

Mawan: SPDP stance on merger unchanged

KUCHING: President of the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) Dato Sri William Mawan Ikom declined to comment of the proposed merger with Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) with the latest statement from PRS President Datuk Seri Dr James Masing.

“I can’t comment on the issue now otherwise the members will get confused,” Mawan told the Eastern Times here yesterday. However, he assured that SPDP’s stance on the merger remains unchanged.

Masing had said in Miri over the weekend that the proposed merger of Sarawak’s two largest Dayak political parties had met with a hostile reception from many grassroots members of both parties. Masing added that the unhappiness among the Dayaks, who comprise 1.5 million of the state’s 2.3 million population was caused by misunderstanding among grassroots members of the two parties, and the merger would not work unless the issues of discontent were resolved.

Masing : Grassroots must accept the meger for the sake of Dayak

“Grassroots members of the two parties must accept the merger or else it cannot work. It is not enough for the leaders of the two parties to agree to the merger. A merger sealed only by the top leaders cannot last. Because of this, PRS will approach the merger plan with caution. But we will not put a time table to it. We want the grounds (party divisions) to meet first (at their annual general meeting) and express their opinion on the merger. Once we have that, then it goes up,” said Masing.

The merger between PRS and SPDP had been discussed since the last state election in 2006 and the idea had recently been welcomed by the State Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman and Chief Minister, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud as a move to strengthen the coalition.

Masing led PRS after its registration on Oct 21, 2004, a day after a trouble-ridden Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) was deregistered. The then new party was admitted into the BN coalition on June 20 the following year. SPDP, meanwhile was registered on Nov 8, 2002.