Former Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) president William Mawan Ikom said it had never crossed his mind that he would one day leave the party and join his rivals.      

Mawan, the state minister for social development, quit SPDP on Thursday to join Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras), which was set up by the very five SPDP leaders, known as the G5, whom he expelled in 2011 for insubordination.

   

The MP for Sarawak and Pakan assemblyman said, he could not deny the irony of the fact that he would soon be heading a political party initially set up to destroy SPDP and his political career.

 

"That's the irony of the situation. That is the paradox of politics. I don't think that I can deny that," said Mawan after a courtesy call to Chief Minister Adenan Satem yesterday.   

Queried as to whether Teras was actually set up to finish-off SPDP and Mawan, G5 leader Peter Nansian Ngusie who was also present said: "It is a new house for all of us. It is a standby house in the event you need one."

Nansian, who is the Tasik Biru assemblyman said, the party doors were opened to those who shared the same political struggles.

On Thursday, Mawan quit from the SPDP which he had headed since its formation in November 2002 and is now expected to lead Teras.

Dubbed as a BN plus party

In September last year, Teras, Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDS Baru), Parti Ekonomi Rakyat Sarawak Bersatu (PERSB), Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) and the Peace Party received their certificates of registration from ROS.  

The pro-tem secretary of Teras is Banyi Briak, the former SPDP executive-secretary, who was removed just before the state election in April 2011 due to his alleged involvement with the G5.

A number of elected representatives quit their respective parties on Thursday to join Teras, among them the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) former assistant secretary-general and Sibu branch chairperson Wong Soon Koh, Baram MP Anyie Ngau and eight SPDP assemblymen.  

Two other elected representatives from SUPP – Lee Khim Shin (Senadin) and Francis Harden (Simanggang) who had previously pledged to “sink or swim” with Wong decided to stay put with deputy president Richard Riot Jaem, the MP for Serian.

Opposition assemblyman George Lagong of the Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) made the move to Teras as well, which was described as a surprise by SWP president Larry Sng.  

SPDP is now left with its deputy president and Bintulu MP Tiong King Sing and Mas Gading MP Anthony Nogeh.

Dubbed as a BN plus party – with serving BN ministers and representatives loyal to BN, the leaders said they would formally apply to join the state BN despite objections from its components.

Yesterday, the group made a courtesy call to Adenan during which the latter assured them that he would assist the party in its application to BN.

- Bernama