Voters in the Mas Gading parliamentary constituency have been left deeply confused as to which BN leader - chairperson Najib Abdul Razak or his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin - to believe over the candidate for the seat.

NONE During a visit to Sarawak on Feb 21, Najib had told the media that he would consider fielding a direct candidate in seats such as Mas Gading.

Dr Tiki Lafe (left) , the incumbent, has become party-less after being sacked by the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) in November 2011, for gross insubordination against the leadership.

Also sacked were state assembly representatives Peter Nansian (Tasik Biru), Sylvester Entri (Marudi), Paulus Gumbang (Batu Danau) and Rosey Yunus (Bekenu).

They have since formed the BN-friendly ‘Kelab BN Sarawak’, and have petitioned the coalition leadership to allow Tiki to defend the seat as he has a substantial following.

But the SPDP has objected to this, naming Anthony Nogih, the deputy general manager of Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation authority , as its preferred candidate for Mas Gading.

Najib’s remark is also in direct contradiction to Muhyiddin’s announcement.

NONE In early February, Muhyiddin (left in photo) had told voters in Mas Gading that there would be no direct BN candidate in the upcoming election, as he believes Sarawak could win two-thirds of the state’s 31 parliamentary seats.

His announcement had made the voters, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) and SPDP leaders and members happy until Najib came along.

“It is obvious that the two leaders do not see eye to eye with one another on certain issues. The difference of opinion is hurting us,” said a SPDP leader who did not wish to be named.

‘BN’s biggest mistake’

PBB Tasik Biru head John Nyigor warned BN leaders that it would be their biggest mistake to nominate Tiki, because he has not been able to consolidate his grassroots support.

“A lot of factors do not favour Tiki,” Nyigor said.

PBB Opar branch head Peter Minos said Tiki would only have a slim chance of retaining the seat after being dropped as a deputy minister of rural and regional development in 2008, followed by his sacking from SPDP.

“You should ask why he was dropped as a deputy minister,” Minos, the PBB deputy information chief, has been telling people.

Tiki was appointed by then premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to his cabinet in 2004, but was dropped after the 2008 general election.

There were allegations that he had given government contracts to a family member, and a report had been lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

DUKAU PAPAU is a pseudonym. The writer is based in Sarawak.